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BASE PROSPECTUS dated 30 December 2013
UBS AG (incorporated with limited liability in Switzerland)
(the “Issuer”)
Base Prospectus for the issue of
UBS ETC Notes (the “Notes”) linked to the various
UBS Bloomberg Constant Maturity Commodity Index (“CMCI”) Indices
Under this programme (the “Programme”), the Issuer may from time to time issue bearer Notes (including, for the
avoidance of doubt, Notes admitted or to be admitted to listing on the Italian Stock Exchange and to trading on the SeDeX
Market (“Italian Certificates”)) on the terms set out herein, the value of which is linked to the indices within the CMCI
Indices or any of its sub-indices and which will, before fees and expenses, provide holders of the Notes with exposure to
potential price appreciation or depreciation in the relevant Index. In respect of Italian Certificates, provided such Italian
Certificates are admitted to listing on the Italian Stock Exchange and to trading on the SeDeX Market, all references to
“Notes” and “Noteholders” in this Base Prospectus shall be deemed to be references to “Italian Certificates” and
“certificateholders”.
Application has been made to the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (“BaFin”) in its capacity as competent
authority in the Federal Republic of Germany under the German Securities Prospectus Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz) (the
“German Securities Prospectus Act”) for the approval of this Base Prospectus. BaFin examines this Base Prospectus only
in respect of its completeness, coherence and comprehensibility pursuant to section 13(1)(2) of the German Securities
Prospectus Act. In addition, application may be made to BaFin to provide the competent authority in Italy (Commissione
Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (“CONSOB”)) and the competent authority in the United Kingdom of Great Britain (the
Financial Conduct Authority in its capacity as competent authority under the Financial Services Act 2012 (the “UKLA”))
with a certificate attesting that the Base Prospectus has been drawn up in accordance with the German Securities Prospectus
Act which implements Directive 2003/71/EC as amended (including the amendments made by Directive 2010/73/EU to the
extent that such amendments have been implemented in the relevant Member State of the European Economic Area) (the
“Prospectus Directive”) into German law. The Issuer may request BaFin to provide competent authorities in additional host
Member States within the European Economic Area with such certificate.
Application may also be made to the UKLA for Notes issued under the Programme to be admitted to the official list of the
UKLA and to the London Stock Exchange plc (“London Stock Exchange”) for such Notes to be admitted to trading on the
London Stock Exchange’s Regulated Market (which is a regulated market for the purposes of the Markets in the Financial
Instruments Directive (Directive 2004/39/EC)), once the UKLA has been provided with a certificate of approval by BaFin
attesting that the Base Prospectus has been drawn up in accordance with the Prospectus Directive. Notes may be listed or
admitted to trading, as the case may be, on other or further stock exchanges or markets (including, in respect of Italian
Certificates, the Italian SeDeX Market).
Notice of the aggregate nominal amount of Notes and certain other information which is applicable to each Series (as
defined under “Definitions”) of Notes will be set out in a final terms (the “Final Terms”) which will be deposited with
BaFin and published in accordance with section 14 of the German Securities Prospectus Act, and may be delivered to
CONSOB and the UKLA and, where listed, the London Stock Exchange (and, in respect of Italian Certificates, the Italian
Stock Exchange). Copies of Final Terms in relation to Notes listed on the London Stock Exchange will also be published on
the website of the London Stock Exchange through a regulatory information service. Prior to the admission to listing on the
Italian Stock Exchange and to trading on the SeDeX Market of Italian Certificates, copies of the relevant Final Terms will be
provided to CONSOB through a regulatory information service and will be published on the website of the Italian Stock
Exchange.
The Notes may not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S.
persons.
An investment in the Notes involves a degree of risk. In addition to the other information contained in this document,
the risk factors set out under the heading “Risk Factors” below should be carefully considered by prospective
investors before deciding whether to invest in the Notes. It should be remembered that the price of securities can go
down as well as up.
2
The Italian language version of the summary of this Base Prospectus is set out in a separate document to this Base
Prospectus and is available free of charge at the registered office of the Issuer. For the avoidance of doubt, such
separate document has not been reviewed and approved by BaFin.
Lead Manager
UBS Investment Bank
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
3
SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................................. 4
RISK FACTORS ........................................................................................................................................ 23
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ................................................................................................................ 34
IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFERS OF NOTES .................................. 37
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE.............................................................................. 39
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 40
DESCRIPTION OF THE CMCI................................................................................................................. 42
COMMODITY FUTURES MARKET ....................................................................................................... 44
TERMS AND CONDITIONS .................................................................................................................... 45
FORM OF FINAL TERMS ........................................................................................................................ 59
SETTLEMENT ........................................................................................................................................... 64
USE OF PROCEEDS AND HEDGING ..................................................................................................... 66
DESCRIPTION OF UBS AG ..................................................................................................................... 67
SALE AND TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS .............................................................................................. 97
TAXATION .............................................................................................................................................. 101
GENERAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................... 109
DEFINITIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 111
DIRECTORS AND ADVISERS .............................................................................................................. 121
APPENDIX A – FORM OF REDEMPTION NOTICE ........................................................................... 122
APPENDIX B – FORM OF REDEMPTION CONFIRMATION ........................................................... 124
APPENDIX C - FORM OF RENOUNCEMENT NOTICE ..................................................................... 125
SIGNATURE PAGE ................................................................................................................................ 126
4
SUMMARY
Summaries are made up of disclosure requirements known as elements (the “Elements”). These
Elements are numbered in sections A – E (A.1 – E.7). This summary contains all the Elements
required to be included in a summary for this type of securities and the Issuer. Because some
Elements are not required to be addressed, there may be gaps in the numbering sequence of the
Elements. Even though an Element may be required to be inserted in the summary because of the type
of securities and the Issuer, it is possible that no relevant information can be given regarding the
Element. In this case a short description of the Element is included in the summary with the
specification of “Not applicable”.
Section A – Introduction and Warnings
Element Title Statement
A.1 Warning
notice This summary must be read as an introduction to this Base
Prospectus.
Any decision to invest in any Notes should be based on a
consideration of the Base Prospectus as a whole by the investor.
Where a claim relating to information contained in the Base
Prospectus is brought before a court in a Member State of the
European Economic Area, the plaintiff may, under the national
legislation of the Member State where the claim is brought, be
required to bear the costs of translating the Base Prospectus before
the legal proceedings are initiated.
Those persons who are responsible for the summary, including the
translation thereof, and who have initiated the preparation of the
summary (Personen, von denen der Erlass ausgeht), can be held
liable but only if the summary is misleading, inaccurate or
inconsistent when read together with the other parts of this Base
Prospectus or it does not provide, when read together with the other
parts of this Base Prospectus, all necessary key information.
A.2 Consent by the
Issuer to the
use of
prospectus in
subsequent
resale or final
placement of
Notes,
indication of
offer period
and conditions
to consent for
subsequent
resale or final
placement, and
warning
The Issuer may provide its consent to (a) the use of the Base Prospectus
and Final Terms for subsequent resale or (b) the final placement, of
certain series of Notes with a denomination of less than EUR 100,000
(or its equivalent in another currency) (a “Public Offer”) by financial
intermediaries, subject to the following conditions:
(i) [the consent is only valid during the period from [•] until
[•]/[the Issue Date]]/[the date which falls [•] [calendar days]
thereafter]] (the “Offer Period”);
(ii) the only offerors authorised to use this Base Prospectus to
make the Public Offer of the relevant Tranche of Notes are the
Issuer and [•] and/or if the Issuer appoints additional financial
intermediaries after the date of the Final Terms and publishes
details of them on its website, each financial intermediary
whose details are so published; [and]
(iii) the consent only extends to the use of the Base Prospectus to
5
Element Title Statement
make Public Offers of the relevant series of Notes in each
Relevant Member State specified in the relevant Final Terms;
[and][
(iv) the consent is subject to the following other condition[s]: [•].]
[Information on the terms and conditions of a Public Offer is to be
provided at the time of that offer by the Offeror.]
[Not applicable; the Issuer does not consent to the use of the Base
Prospectus for subsequent resale.]
Section B – Issuer
Element Title
B.1 Legal and commercial name of
Issuer:
UBS AG (the “Issuer”).
B.2 Domicile/legal form/legislation/
country of incorporation:
The company was incorporated under the
name SBC AG on 28 February 1978 for an
unlimited duration and entered in the
Commercial Register of Canton Basel-City
on that day. On 8 December 1997, the
company changed its name to UBS AG.
The company in its present form was
created on 29 June 1998 by the merger of
Union Bank of Switzerland (founded
1862) and Swiss Bank Corporation
(founded 1872). UBS AG is entered in the
Commercial Registers of Canton Zurich
and Canton Basel-City. The registration
number is CH-270.3.004.646-4.
The Issuer is incorporated and domiciled
in Switzerland and operates under the
Swiss Code of Obligations and Swiss
Federal Banking Law as an
Aktiengesellschaft, a corporation that has
issued shares of common stock to
investors.
The addresses and telephone numbers of
UBS AG's two registered offices and
principal places of business are:
Bahnhofstrasse 45, CH-8001 Zurich,
Switzerland, telephone +41 44 234 1111;
and Aeschenvorstadt 1, CH-4051 Basel,
Switzerland, telephone +41 61 288 5050.
B.4(b) Known trends affecting the Issuer
and the industries in which it
As stated in the outlook statement
presented in UBS AG's third quarter 2013
6
Element Title
operates: report, including unaudited consolidated
financial statements and issued on 29
October 2013, at the start of the fourth
quarter, the fiscal debate in the US
highlighted the fact that many of the
underlying challenges related to structural
fiscal and economic issues remain.
Consequently, for the fourth quarter of
2013, client confidence and activity levels
may continue to be impacted by the
continued absence of sustained and
credible improvements to unresolved
European sovereign debt and banking
system issues and US fiscal and monetary
issues, and by the mixed outlook for global
growth. This would once again make
improvements in prevailing market
conditions unlikely, and would
consequently generate headwinds for
revenue growth, net interest margins and
net new money. Nevertheless, UBS
expects that its wealth management
businesses will continue to attract net new
money, reflecting new and existing clients'
steadfast trust in the firm, and that the
actions it has taken will ensure the firm's
long-term success and will deliver
sustainable returns for shareholders.
B.5 The Issuer's group and the
Issuer’s position within such
group:
UBS AG is the parent company of a group
of companies (UBS AG together with its
subsidiaries “UBS Group”, “Group” or
“UBS”). The objective of the UBS’s group
structure is to support the business
activities of the parent company within an
efficient legal, tax, regulatory and funding
framework. None of the individual
business divisions of UBS or the
Corporate Center are legally independent
entities; instead, they primarily perform
their activities through the domestic and
foreign offices of the parent bank. In cases
where it is impossible or inefficient to
operate via the parent bank, due to local
legal, tax or regulatory provisions, or
where additional legal entities join the
Group through acquisition, the business is
operated on location by legally
independent group companies.
B.9 Profit forecast or estimate: Not Applicable. No profit estimates or
forecasts are included in this Base
7
Element Title
Prospectus.
B.10 Audit report qualification: Not Applicable. There are no
qualifications in the audit reports on the
Issuer’s audited financial statements for
years ended on 31 December 2012 and 31
December 2011.
B.12 Selected historical key financial
information:
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
The Issuer derived the following selected
consolidated financial data from (i) its
annual report 2012, containing the audited
consolidated financial statements of UBS
Group, as well as additional unaudited
consolidated financial data for the fiscal
year ended 31 December 2012 (including
comparative figures for the fiscal years
ended 31 December 2011 and 2010), (ii)
its third quarter 2013 report, containing the
unaudited consolidated financial
statements of UBS Group, as well as
additional unaudited consolidated financial
data for the nine months ended on 30
September 2013 (from which comparative
figures for the nine months ended 30
September 2012 have been derived), and
(iii) its first quarter 2013 report, containing
unaudited consolidated financial
statements of UBS Group, as well as
additional unaudited consolidated financial
information for the quarter ended 31
March 2013 (from which selected restated
comparative figures as of or for the fiscal
year ended 31 December 2012 have been
derived). UBS’s consolidated financial
statements were prepared in accordance
with International Financial Reporting
Standards (“IFRS”) issued by the
International Accounting Standards Board
(“IASB”) and stated in Swiss francs
(CHF).
For the nine months ended For the year ended
CHF million, except where indicated 30.09.13 30.09.12 31.12.121 31.12.11 31.12.10
unaudited audited, except where indicated
Group results
Operating income 21,425 19,215 25,423*1 27,788 31,994
Operating expenses 18,602 19,172 27,216 22,482 24,650
8
Element Title
Operating profit / (loss) before tax 2,823 43 (1,794)* 1 5,307 7,345
Net profit / (loss) attributable to UBS
shareholders 2,255 (576) (2,480)* 1 4,138 7,452
Diluted earnings per share (CHF) 0.59 (0.15) (0.66)* 1 1.08 1.94
Key performance indicators, balance sheet and capital management, and additional information
Performance
Return on equity (RoE) (%) 2 6.4 (1.6) (5.1)* 9.1* 18.0*
Return on tangible equity (%) 3 7.6 8.4 1.6* 11.9* 24.7*
Return on risk-weighted assets, gross
(%) 4
11.5 11.9 12.0* 13.7* 15.5*
Return on assets, gross (%) 5 2.5 1.9 1.9* 2.1* 2.3*
Growth
Net profit growth (%) 6 N/A N/A N/A* (44.5)* N/A*
Net new money growth (%) 7 1.8 1.7 1.6* 1.9* (0.8)*
Efficiency
Cost / income ratio (%) 8 86.7 99.3 106.6* 80.7* 76.9*
As of As of
CHF million, except where indicated 30.09.13 30.09.12 31.12.121 31.12.11 31.12.10
unaudited audited, except where indicated
Capital strength
BIS Basel III common equity tier 1
capital ratio (%, phase-in) 9, 10
17.5 15.3*
BIS Basel III common equity tier 1
capital ratio (%, fully applied) 9, 10
11.9 9.8*
Swiss SRB leverage ratio (%) 9, 11 4.2 3.6*
Balance sheet and capital management
Total assets 1,049,101 1,366,776 1,259,797*1 1,416,962 1,314,813
Equity attributable to UBS
shareholders
47,403 48,125 45,949*1 48,530 43,728
Total book value per share (CHF) 12.58 12.85 12.26* 12.95* 11.53*
Tangible book value per share (CHF) 10.89 11.08 10.54* 10.36* 8.94*
BIS Basel III common equity tier 1
capital (phase-in) 12
38,963 40,032*
BIS Basel III common equity tier 1
capital (fully applied) 12
26,019 25,182*
BIS Basel III risk-weighted assets
(phase-in) 12
222,306 261,800*
BIS Basel III risk-weighted assets
(fully applied) 12
218,926 258,113*
BIS Basel III total capital ratio (%,
phase-in) 12
21.8 18.9*
BIS Basel III total capital ratio (%,
fully applied)12
14.3 11.4*
Additional information
Invested assets (CHF billion) 13 2,339 2,242 2,230 2,088 2,075
Personnel (full-time equivalents) 60,635 63,745 62,628* 64,820* 64,617*
Market capitalization 71,066 43,894 54,729* 42,843* 58,803*
9
Element Title
*unaudited
1 On 1 January 2013, UBS adopted IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements. The comparative 2012 periods included in
the first, second and third quarter reports 2013 have been restated to reflect the effect of adopting IFRS 10. Under IFRS 10,
periods prior to 2012 were not required to be restated. As a result of adopting IFRS 10, the restated financial data as of or for
the fiscal year ended 31 December 2012 included in this table are not the same as presented in the Annual Report 2012. As a
further consequence, that financial data as of or for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2012 that would have been marked as
audited, had they not been restated, are not audited and are marked in the table with this footnote 1.
2 Net profit / (loss) attributable to UBS shareholders (annualised as applicable) / average equity attributable to UBS
shareholders.
3 Net profit / (loss) attributable to UBS shareholders before amortisation and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets
(annualised as applicable) / average equity attributable to UBS shareholders less average goodwill and intangible assets.
4 Operating income before credit loss (expense) or recovery (annualised as applicable) / average risk-weighted assets. Based
on BIS Basel III risk-weighted assets (phase-in) for 2013, on Basel 2.5 risk-weighted assets for 2012 and on Basel II risk-
weighted assets for 2011 and 2010.
5 Operating income before credit loss (expense) or recovery (annualised as applicable) / average total assets.
6 Change in net profit attributable to UBS shareholders from continuing operations between current and comparison periods /
net profit attributable to UBS shareholders from continuing operations of comparison period. Not meaningful and not
included if either the reporting period or the comparison period is a loss period.
7 Net new money for the period (annualised as applicable) / invested assets at the beginning of the period. Group net new
money includes net new money for Retail & Corporate and excludes interest and dividend income.
8 Operating expenses / operating income before credit loss (expense) or recovery.
9 On 1 January 2013 the BIS Basel III requirements became effective in Switzerland. In order to align its key performance
indicators framework, in the first quarter of 2013 UBS replaced the key performance indicators "BIS tier 1 ratio (%)" and
"FINMA leverage ratio (%)" with "BIS Basel III common equity tier 1 capital ratio (%, phase in / fully applied)" and "Swiss
SRB (systemically relevant banks) leverage ratio (%)". Numbers for 31 December 2012 are on a pro-forma basis.
10 BIS Basel III common equity tier 1 capital / BIS Basel III risk-weighted assets. The information provided on a fully applied
basis does not consider the effects of the transition period, during which new capital deductions are phased in and ineligible
capital instruments are phased out.
11 Total Swiss SRB Basel III capital / IFRS assets, based on a capital adequacy scope of consolidation, adjusted for
replacement value netting and other adjustments, including off-balance sheet items. Formerly referred to as FINMA Basel III
leverage ratio.
12 On 1 January 2013 the Basel III requirements became effective in Switzerland. BIS Basel III numbers for 31 December
2012 are on a pro-forma basis.
13 Group invested assets includes invested assets for Retail & Corporate.
Statements of no significant
change or material adverse
change:
There has been no significant change in
the financial or trading position of the
UBS Group since 30 September 2013 and
no material adverse change in the
prospects of the UBS Group since 31
December 2012.
10
Element Title
B.13 Events impacting the Issuer’s
solvency:
Not Applicable; there are no recent events
particular to the Issuer that are, to a
material extent, relevant to the evaluation
of the Issuer’s solvency.
B.14 Dependence upon other group
entities:
The Issuer is the parent company of the
UBS Group. The UBS Group is a global
financial services firm with operations
worldwide and a banking operation in
Switzerland. The objective of the UBS
Group structure is to support the business
activities of the parent company within an
efficient legal, tax, regulatory and funding
framework. None of the individual
business divisions of UBS or the
Corporate Centre are legally independent
entities; instead, they primarily perform
their activities through the domestic and
foreign offices of the parent bank.
In cases where it is impossible or
inefficient to operate via the parent bank,
due to local legal, tax or regulatory
provisions, or where additional legal
entities join the UBS Group through
acquisition, the business is operated on
location by legally independent UBS
Group companies. UBS AG's significant
subsidiaries as of 31 December 2012 are
listed in its annual report as of 31
December 2012 published on 14 March
2013, on pages 441-442 (inclusive) of the
English version.
UBS AG is the parent company of the
UBS Group. As such, to a certain extent, it
is dependent on certain of its subsidiaries.
B.15 Issuer’s principal activities: The UBS Group draws on its 150-year
heritage to serve private, institutional and
corporate clients worldwide, as well as
retail clients in Switzerland. UBS's
business strategy is centred on its pre-
eminent global wealth management
businesses and its, in its own opinion,
leading universal bank in Switzerland.
These businesses, together with a client-
focused Investment Bank and a strong,
well-diversified Global Asset Management
business, will enable UBS to expand its
premier wealth management franchise and
drive further growth across the Group.
Headquartered in Zurich and Basel,
11
Element Title
Switzerland, UBS has offices in more than
50 countries, including all major financial
centres.
B.16 Ownership and control of the
Issuer:
The following are the most recent
notifications of holdings in UBS AG's
share capital filed in accordance with the
Swiss Stock Exchange Act, based on UBS
AG's registered share capital at the time of
the disclosure: (i) 30 September 2011,
Norges Bank (the Central Bank of
Norway), 3.04%; (ii) 18 September 2013,
Government of Singapore Investment
Corp. disclosed a change of its corporate
name to GIC Private Limited and a holding
of 6.40%; (iii) 17 December 2009,
BlackRock Inc., New York, USA, 3.45%.
As of 30 September 2013, the following
shareholders (acting in their own name or
in their capacity as nominees for other
investors or beneficial owners) were
registered in the share register with 3% or
more of the total share capital of UBS AG:
Chase Nominees Ltd., London (11.93%);
GIC Private Limited, Singapore (6.39%);
the US securities clearing organization
DTC (Cede & Co.) New York, "The
Depository Trust Company" (5.88%); and
Nortrust Nominees Ltd., London (3.85%).
Section C – Securities
Element Title
C.1 Type and class of
the Notes including
any security
identification
number:
The Notes are derivative-linked debt securities, where the
repayment terms are linked to the performance of a specified
index. The Notes will not bear interest. The Notes may be cleared
through a clearing system. Certain Notes may be in
dematerialised and uncertificated book-entry form.
Notes will be issued in one or more series (each a “Series”) and
each Series may be issued in tranches (each a “Tranche”) on the
same or different issue dates. The Notes of each Series are
intended to be interchangeable with all other Notes of that Series.
Each Series will be allocated a unique Series number and an
identification code.
The Notes are transferable obligations of the Issuer that can be
bought and sold by investors in accordance with the terms and
conditions set out in the Base Prospectus (the “General
Conditions”), as completed by the final terms document (the
“Final Terms”) (the General Conditions as so completed, the
12
Element Title
“Conditions”). The Notes will be governed by English law.
Notes:
[[•][•] in aggregate Notional Amount of [•]].
ISIN:
The International Securities Identification Number (“ISIN”) is [•].
Settlement:
[The Notes will be accepted for clearing through Euroclear Bank
S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream Banking, société
anonyme (“Clearstream”). Each Global Note is to be held by or
on behalf of such clearing systems and therefore potential
investors will have to rely on the clearing systems’ procedures for
transfer, payment and communications with the Issuer.]
[The Notes of the relevant class or Series may be held and
transferred as CREST depositary interests through the CREST
system]. [The Italian Certificates may be cleared through the
bridge accounts of Monte Titoli.]
C.2 Currency: Subject to compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and
directives, Notes may be issued in any currency. The currency of
the Notes is [•].
C.5 Restrictions on
Transferability:
Not Applicable. The Notes are freely transferable.
C.8 Description of
rights attached to
the Notes and
limitations to those
rights; ranking of
the Notes:
Status and Ranking:
The Notes (i) constitute direct, unconditional, unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer; (ii) rank equally among
themselves; and (iii) as at the issue date rank equally with all
other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated
obligations of the Issuer, other than certain debts required to be
preferred by law.
Events of Default:
The terms and conditions of the Notes contain, amongst others,
the following events of default:
(a) default in payment of any amount due in respect of the
Notes, continuing for more than 30 calendar days;
(b) default in the performance by the Issuer of any other
obligation under the Notes which is incapable of remedy
or which, being a default capable of remedy, continues for
60 calendar days after notice thereof has been given by
any Noteholder to the Issuer; and
(c) events relating to the insolvency or winding up of the
13
Element Title
Issuer.
Meetings:
The terms and conditions of the Notes contain provisions for
calling meetings of holders of such Notes to consider matters
affecting their interests generally. These provisions permit
defined majorities to bind all holders, including holders who did
not attend and vote at the relevant meeting and holders who voted
in a manner contrary to the majority.
Taxation & Expenses:
All payments in respect of the Notes are subject to all applicable
fiscal and other laws and regulations, including laws requiring the
deduction or withholding of tax (including any amounts required
to be withheld or deducted by the rules of Sections 1471 through
1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (or any amended or
successor provisions), pursuant to any inter-governmental
agreement or implementing legislation adopted by another
jurisdiction in connection with these provisions, or pursuant to
any agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“FATCA
withholding”) as a result of a holder, beneficial owner or an
intermediary that is not an agent of the Issuer not being entitled to
receive payments free of FATCA withholding), duty, charges,
withholding or other payment that may arise as a result of, or in
connection with the ownership, transfer, redemption or
enforcement of any of its Notes (“Noteholder Expenses”).
The Issuer may withhold or deduct from any amount payable to
the Noteholders the amount necessary to pay any Noteholder
Expenses and no payment in respect of a Note shall be made until
all Noteholder Expenses in respect thereof have been paid or
deducted in full to the satisfaction of the Issuer. A person entitled
to receive an interim payment or final payment or exercising a
right to receive a payment under (or entitled to receive any
amount at maturity or exercise under) the Note may be required
upon request by the Issuer and/or its agents or relevant nominee to
certify that neither it nor the beneficial owner of the instrument is
a U.S. person or is located in the United States. The Issuer will
have no obligation to pay additional amounts or otherwise
indemnify an investor for any Noteholder Expenses, including
any FATCA withholding deducted or withheld by the Issuer, any
paying agent or any other party.
[The calculation agent may additionally in its sole discretion
increase or decrease, as the case may be, any Redemption
Amount payable to account for any income, loss, costs (including
hedging costs) and expenses of the Issuer that it believes are
attributable to or as a result of any cross-currency disruption event
or interest disruption event.]
Governing Law:
14
Element Title
The Notes are governed by and will be construed in accordance
with English law.
C.11 Admission to
listing/distribution:
[Application [has been/is expected to be] made by the Issuer to
list the Notes on the official list and admit the Notes to trading on
the regulated market of the [London Stock Exchange] [Borsa
Italiana S.p.A] with effect from [•].
[Not applicable; the Notes are not intended to be listed or
admitted to trading.]
C.15 Effect of
Underlying
Instrument on the
value of
investment:
The value of the Notes will be affected by the performance of the
relevant Index. The Notes are fully exposed to any decline in the
level of the relevant Index. If the closing level of the relevant
Index on the applicable redemption date (or such date as may be
determined pursuant to the disruption fallback provisions) (the
“Index Ending Level”) is below the closing level of the relevant
Index on [•] (the “Index Starting Level”) or if the Index Ending
Level is not sufficiently above the Index Starting Level to offset
the cumulative effect of the Fee Amount, the Redemption
Amount will be less than the nominal amount of the Note.
C.16 Maturity Date: [The Notes have no specified maturity.] / [The Italian Certificates
will redeem automatically on the Data di Scadenza unless
Noteholders have given a duly completed renouncement notice to
the Issuer.]
C.17 Settlement
procedure:
The procedure for the redemption of Notes by Noteholder election
is, unless otherwise agreed with the Issuer, as follows:
(i) a Noteholder wishing to redeem its Notes should submit a
redemption notice in the prescribed form, pursuant to and
in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Notes,
to the Issuer by no later than 12 noon London time on the
trading day immediately prior to the redemption date;
(ii) on receipt of a duly completed redemption notice the
Issuer will send the relevant Noteholder a redemption
confirmation as soon as reasonably practicable following
the publication of the closing level of the relevant Index
by the Index sponsors on the date of such receipt; and
(iii) such Noteholder must instruct:
(a) the clearing system through which its Notes are
held to block its account in respect of its Notes;
(b) its Euroclear and/or Clearstream custodian to
book a delivery versus payment trade with
respect to the Notes to be redeemed on the
redemption date at a price equal to the
Redemption Amount; and
15
Element Title
(c) its Euroclear and/or Clearstream custodian to
deliver the trade as booked for settlement via
Euroclear and/or Clearstream as at or prior to
10.00 a.m. London time on the redemption
payment date.
C.18 Return on
derivative
securities:
The “Redemption Amount” in respect of each Note will be
calculated in accordance with the following formula:
(nominal amount of the Note * Index Ending Level / Index
Starting Level) - Total Fee Amount.
The “Fee Amount” will be calculated in accordance with the
following formula:
(fee level (being [•])/365) * (nominal amount of the Note x
Current Index Performance Ratio),
and the “Total Fee Amount” means the sum of the Fee Amounts
for each day from and including the trading day after the
applicable trade date up to and including the redemption date.
“Current Index Performance Ratio” means a figure equivalent
to the Current Index Level/Index Starting Level.
“Current Index Level” means, as at any date, the level of
relevant Index calculated using the closing settlement prices of
the component contracts as at such date.
C.19 Exercise price/final
reference price:
The Index Ending Level will equal the closing level of the
relevant Index as at the applicable redemption date (or if such
date is a disrupted day, as determined pursuant to the disruption
fallbacks.
C.20 Type of underlying
and where found:
The relevant Index is [•]. Details may be obtained from
Bloomberg® and www.ubs.com/cmci.
Section D - Risks
Element Title
D.2 Key risks
regarding the
Issuer:
In purchasing Notes, investors assume the risk that the Issuer may
become insolvent or otherwise be unable to make all payments due
in respect of the Notes. There is a wide range of factors which
individually or together could result in the Issuer becoming unable
to make all payments due in respect of the Notes. The following
risks may impact UBS’s ability to execute its strategy and affect its
business activities, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects:
- regulatory and legislative changes may adversely affect UBS’s
business and ability to execute its strategic plans;
16
Element Title
- UBS’s capital strength is important in supporting its strategy,
client franchise and competitive position. Any reduction in
UBS’s capital position could materially reduce UBS’s capital
ratios, which could constrain UBS’s business activities;
- UBS may not be successful in executing its announced
strategic plans;
- UBS’s reputation is critical to the success of its business;
- material legal and regulatory risks arise in the conduct of
UBS’s business
- performance in the financial services industry is affected by
market conditions and the macroeconomic climate;
- UBS holds legacy and other risk positions that may be
adversely affected by conditions in the financial markets;
- legacy risk positions may be difficult to liquidate;
- UBS’s global presence subjects UBS to risk from currency
fluctuations;
- UBS is dependent upon its risk management and control
processes to avoid or limit potential losses in its trading and
counterparty credit businesses;
- valuations of certain positions rely on models; models have
inherent limitations and may use inputs which have no
observable source. Changes in model inputs or in the models
themselves, or failure to make the changes necessary to reflect
evolving market conditions, could have a material adverse
effect on UBS’s financial results;
- UBS is exposed to possible outflows of client assets in its
asset-gathering businesses and to changes affecting the
profitability of our Wealth Management business division;
- liquidity and funding management are critical to UBS’s
ongoing performance;
- operational risks may affect UBS’s business;
- UBS might be unable to identify or capture revenue or
competitive opportunities, or retain and attract qualified
employees;
- UBS’s financial results may be negatively affected by changes
to accounting standards;
- UBS’s financial results may be negatively affected by changes
17
Element Title
to assumptions supporting the value of its goodwill; and
- the effects of taxes on UBS’s financial results are significantly
influenced by changes in UBS’s deferred tax assets and final
determinations on audits by tax authorities.
Because the business of a broad-based international financial
services firm such as UBS is inherently exposed to risks that
become apparent only with the benefit of hindsight, risks of which
UBS is not presently aware or which it currently does not consider
to be material could also impact its ability to execute its strategy
and affect its business activities, financial condition, results of
operations and prospects. The sequence in which the risk factors
are presented above is not indicative of their likelihood of
occurrence or the potential magnitude of their financial
consequences. Any of the foregoing factors could affect the value
of the Notes and the ability of the Issuer to make payments on
redemption thereof.
D.6 Key information
on the risks that
are specific and
individual to the
Notes:
Potential investors of the Notes should recognise that the Notes
constitute a risk investment which can lead to a total loss of their
investment in the Notes. Noteholders will incur a loss, if the
amounts received in accordance with the Conditions of the Notes is
below the purchase price of the Notes (including the transaction
costs). Any investor bears the risk of the Issuer’s financial situation
worsening and the potential subsequent inability of the Issuer to
pay its obligations under the Notes. Potential investors must
therefore be prepared and able to sustain a partial or even a total
loss of the invested capital. Any investors interested in purchasing
the Notes should assess their financial situation, to ensure that they
are in a position to bear the risks of loss connected with the Notes.
The following risks apply in respect of the Notes:
- the Notes are fully exposed to any decline in the level of the
relevant Index and Noteholders may lose some or all of the
amounts invested;
- the Notes do not pay interest or a guaranteed fixed amount
upon redemption;
- if the value of the relevant Index does not increase sufficiently
to offset the effect of the fee amount in respect of a Series of
Notes, a Noteholder will receive less than the amount invested,
upon redemption of its Notes;
- all payments in respect of the Notes are subject to all applicable
fiscal and other laws and regulations, including laws requiring
the deduction or withholding of tax (including FATCA
withholding), duty, charges, withholding or other payment that
may arise as a result of, or in connection with the ownership,
transfer, redemption or enforcement of any of its Notes;
- the Calculation Agent may (other than in respect of Italian
18
Element Title
Certificates) decrease the Redemption Amount to account for
any costs of the Issuer in respect of certain disruption events;
- there may be restrictions on the ability of Noteholders to
redeem their Notes which could affect the ability of
Noteholders to receive redemption amounts;
- the Issuer may, on the giving of notice, redeem all Notes of a
particular class and/or Series on any trading day;
- the market value of the Notes at any time will be affected by a
number of factors independent of the creditworthiness of the
Issuer and the performance of the relevant Index;
- the price, performance or investment return of the relevant
Index may be subject to sudden and large unpredictable
changes over time;
- the market value of the Notes may not reflect the redemption
amount;
- Italian Certificates may have illiquidity in the secondary
market if there is no offer to institutional investors or if the
Italian Certificates are not admitted to trading on a regulated
market or other trading venue;
- there may be a difference between the theoretical value of
Italian Certificates and the bid/offer price quoted in the
secondary market;
- factors impacting the price of commodities generally will affect
the level of the relevant Index and the value of the Notes;
- higher future prices of the component contracts relative to their
current prices may decrease the redemption amount;
- changes in the composition and calculation of an Index will
affect the value of the Notes;
- disruptions to the calculation and/or publication of an Index
may result in the Calculation Agent determining the Index
Ending Level;
- there is limited performance history in respect of the CMCI
Index Family;
- historical levels of any Index should not be taken as an
indication of future performance;
- suspension or disruptions of market trading in component
contracts and related futures markets may adversely affect the
value of the Notes;
19
Element Title
- the London Metal Exchange’s ("LME") use of or omission to
use price controls could have a significant adverse impact on
the level of the Index and, therefore, the value of the Notes;
- there may be a concentration of particular component contracts
representing either a particular commodity sector or
commodity, in an Index;
- changes in the notional rate of interest may affect the value of a
Total Return Index and the corresponding Notes;
- the Redemption Amount will not be adjusted to compensate for
exchange rate fluctuations;
- all taxes or other duties payable at the level of the Issuer or the
Noteholders on payments made in relation to the Notes are to
be borne by the Noteholders;
- financial transactions with respect to Italian Certificates may be
subject to the Italian Financial Transactions Tax;
- payments on or with respect to the Notes may be subject to
U.S. withholding under FATCA;
- trading and other transactions by the Issuer in Index
commodities, futures, options, exchange-traded funds or other
derivative products on Index commodities or any one or more
of the Indices, may impair the market value of the Notes;
- the Issuer and its affiliates may publish research, express
opinions or provide recommendations that are inconsistent with
investing in or holding the Notes;
- the business activities of the Issuer or its affiliates may create
conflicts of interest;
- the Issuer’s involvement in the Index Committees may conflict
with the interests of Noteholders;
- there may be conflicts of interest between Noteholders and the
Calculation Agent;
- there may be conflicts of interest relating to distributors;
- the Issuer may in certain circumstances substitute for itself as
principal obligor under the Notes; and
- the failure to deliver any certifications required by the
Conditions could result in the loss or inability to receive
amounts otherwise due under the Notes.
20
Element Title
Risk warning: Investors in the Notes bear the risk of the Issuer's financial situation
worsening and a decline in the level of the relevant Index of the
Notes. Potential investors must therefore be prepared and able to
sustain a partial or even a total loss of their entire investment.
Section E – Offer
Element Title
E.2(b) Reasons for the
offer and use of
proceeds:
The net proceeds of the issue of the Notes will be used by the
Issuer outside of Switzerland for its general corporate purposes,
which includes making a profit and which may include hedging
activities in respect of the Notes.
E.3 Terms and
conditions of the
offer:
The terms and conditions of each offer of Notes will be determined
by the Issuer at the time of issue.
[Not applicable; the Notes have not been offered to the public.]
[The Notes are offered subject to the following conditions:
Offer Price:
[ ] [Not Applicable]
Conditions to which the offer is subject:
[Not Applicable] [ ]
Description of the application process:
[Not Applicable] [ ]
Details of the minimum and/or maximum amount of
application:
[Not Applicable] [ ]
Details of the method and time limits for paying up and
delivering the Notes:
[Not Applicable] [ ]
Manner in and date on which results of the offer are to be
made public:
[Not Applicable] [ ]
Categories of potential investors to which the Notes are offered
and whether tranche(s) have been reserved for certain
countries:
[Not Applicable] [ ]
Process for notification to applicants of the amount allotted and
the indication whether dealing may begin before notification is
made:
[Not Applicable] [ ]
21
Element Title
Amount of any expenses and taxes specifically charged to the
subscriber or purchaser:
[Not Applicable] [ ]
Name(s) and address(es), to the extent known to the Issuer, of
the placers in the various countries where the offer takes place:
[Not Applicable] [ ]]
E.4 Interest of
natural and legal
persons involved
in the issue/offer:
The business activities of the Issuer or its affiliates may create
conflicts of interest:
The Issuer and its affiliates expect to engage in trading activities
related to any Index and the Index commodities that are not for the
account of holders of the Notes or on their behalf. These trading
activities may present a conflict between the holders’ interests in
the Notes and the interests the Issuer and its affiliates will have in
their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including
options and other derivatives transactions, for their customers and
in accounts under their management. These trading activities, if
they influence the level of any Index, could be adverse to the
interests of the holders of the Notes.
The Issuer’s involvement in the Index committees may conflict
with the interests of Noteholders:
The Issuer nominates members of the Index committees.
Consequently, the Issuer will be involved in the composition and
management of each Index including additions, deletions and the
weightings of the Index commodities or component contracts. Due
to its influence on determinations of the Index committees, which
may affect the market value of the Notes, the Issuer may have a
conflict of interest if it participates in or influences such
determinations.
Potential conflicts of interest between Noteholders and the
calculation agent:
UBS AG, London Branch will serve as the calculation agent in
respect of the Notes (the “Calculation Agent”). Since
determination by the Calculation Agent may affect the market
value of the Notes, the Calculation Agent may have a conflict of
interest if it needs to make any such decision.
Potential conflicts of interest relating to distributors:
Potential conflicts of interest may arise where the Italian
Certificates are offered to the public in Italy, as any distributors
will act pursuant to a mandate granted by the Issuer and will
receive commissions and/or fees on the basis of the services
performed and the outcome of the placement of the Italian
Certificates in Italy.
22
Element Title
E.7 Estimated
expenses charged
to the investor by
the Issuer or the
Offeror
[Not Applicable; no expenses will be charged to the investor by the
Issuer or the offeror[s].] [No expenses are charged to investors by
the Issuer. However, an offeror might charge expenses in
connection with an offer of Notes. Under such circumstances, such
offeror will be under a statutory obligation to provide investors
with related information.] [The following estimated expenses will
be charged to the investor by the offeror[s] [•].]
23
RISK FACTORS
An investment in the Notes will involve risks. Prior to making an investment decision, prospective
investors should carefully read the entire Prospectus. In addition to the other information contained
in this document the following material risk factors should be carefully considered by prospective
investors before deciding whether to invest in the Notes. The Issuer believes that the factors described
below represent the principal risks inherent in investing in Notes issued under the Programme, but
the inability of the Issuer to pay amounts on or in connection with any Notes may occur for other
reasons and the Issuer does not represent that the statements below regarding the risks of holding any
Notes are exhaustive.
Prospective investors should obtain their own independent accounting, tax and legal advice and
should consult their own professional investment advisers to ascertain the suitability of the Notes as
an investment and should conduct such independent investigation and analysis regarding the risks
and cash-flows associated with the Notes as they deem appropriate, in order to evaluate the merits
and risks of an investment in the Notes. Prospective investors should be aware that their entire
investment in the Notes may be lost.
Risks regarding the Issuer
In purchasing Notes, investors assume the risk that the Issuer may become insolvent or otherwise be
unable to make all payments due in respect of the Notes. There is a wide range of factors which
individually or together could result in the Issuer becoming unable to make all payments due in
respect of the Notes. The description of risks in section III on pages 4 - 16 of the Registration
Document dated 22 May 2013 are incorporated by reference.
The Notes are subject to the credit risk of the Issuer
The Notes are subject to the credit risk of the Issuer, and its credit ratings and credit spreads may
adversely affect the market value of the Notes. Investors are dependent on the Issuer's ability to pay
all amounts due on the Notes, and therefore investors are subject to the credit risk of the Issuer and to
changes in the market's view of the creditworthiness of the Issuer. Any decline in such credit ratings
or increase in the credit spreads charged by the market for taking credit risk on the Issuer is likely to
affect adversely the value of the Notes. If the Issuer were to default on its payment obligations, an
investor may not receive any amounts owed to it under the Notes and could lose its entire investment.
The Notes are fully exposed to any decline in the level of the relevant Index and you may lose
some or all of your investment
The Notes do not pay interest or a guaranteed fixed amount upon redemption. Upon redemption a
Redemption Amount will be paid, based on the performance of the Index during the period for which
the Note was in issue and the effect of the Fee Amount.
The Notes are fully exposed to any decline in the level of the relevant Index (as measured by the
Index Performance Ratio). If the Index Ending Level is below the Index Starting Level or if the Index
Ending Level is not sufficiently above the Index Starting Level to offset the cumulative effect of the
Fee Amount, an investor will lose some or all of its investment in the Notes. Each Index is volatile
and subject to a variety of market forces, some of which are described below, which will affect the
return an investor will receive on an investment in the Notes.
The effect of the Fee Amount
The Redemption Amount is calculated to take account of the Fee Amount which reduces the extent to
which the value of the Notes reflects any increase in the level of the relevant Index. If the relevant
24
Index level decreases, the effect of the Fee Amount is further to reduce the value of the Notes. An
investment in the Notes is therefore not the same as an investment in the relevant Index.
The Fee Amount applicable to a particular class of Notes will be set out in the applicable Final Terms
and will be deducted daily over the term of the Notes. If the value of the relevant Index does not
increase sufficiently to offset the effect of the Fee Amount on the Redemption Amount, a Noteholder
will receive less than the amount invested, upon Redemption of its Notes. The Fee Amount is
expected to have a similar negative impact on any return realised by selling Notes in the secondary
market.
Investors should note that the Fee Amount is calculated by reference to the daily level of the relevant
Index and the deduction made in the calculation of the Redemption Amount to account for the Fee
Amount is a deduction of the aggregate of the Fee Amount for each day that any Note is held and not
simply for the relevant Valuation Date. This means that the aggregate Fee Amount payable on any
Note will depend on changes in the level of the relevant Index during the period that the Note is held
and not just when it is Redeemed.
Reductions to the Redemption Amount
Noteholders should be aware that:
(i) all payments in respect of the Notes are subject to all applicable fiscal and other laws and
regulations, including laws requiring the deduction or withholding of tax (including FATCA
withholding), duty, charges, withholding or other payment that may arise as a result of, or in
connection with the ownership, transfer, redemption or enforcement of any of its Notes
(“Noteholder Expenses”). The Issuer may withhold or deduct from any amount payable to the
Noteholders the amount necessary to pay any Noteholder Expenses and no payment in respect
of a Note shall be made until all Noteholder Expenses in respect thereof have been paid or
deducted in full to the satisfaction of the Issuer; and
(ii) if the Notes are not Italian Certificates, the Calculation Agent may in its sole discretion increase
or decrease the Redemption Amount to account for any income, loss, costs (including hedging
costs) and expenses of the Issuer that it believes are attributable to or as a result of any FX
Disruption Event or Interest Disruption Event (each as defined under the heading
“Definitions”).
Restrictions on Redemption of Notes
There are restrictions on the ability of Noteholders to Redeem their Notes which could affect the
ability of Noteholders to receive their Redemption Amount. Except as otherwise stated in the
applicable Final Terms, only Noteholders who are Financial and/or Credit Institutions have the right
to Redeem their Notes and may do so only on an applicable Annual Exercise Date, in multiples of the
Minimum Redemption Multiple. Early Redemption by the Issuer
The Issuer may, on the giving of 30 days’ (or in some circumstances 10 days’) notice, Redeem all
Notes of a particular class and/or Series on any Trading Day. Consequently, an investment in the
Notes may be Redeemed earlier than desired by a Noteholder.
Market value of the Notes
The market value of the Notes at any time will be affected by a number of factors independent of the
creditworthiness of the Issuer and the performance of the relevant Index, including:
(a) market interest and yield rates;
25
(b) the time remaining to Redemption; and
(c) numerous economic, financial, political, regulatory, judicial and other factors.
Holders of the Notes are exposed to the performance of the relevant Index. The price, performance or
investment return of the relevant Index may be subject to sudden and large unpredictable changes
over time and this degree of change is known as “volatility”. The volatility of the relevant Index may
be affected by national and international financial, political, military or economic events, including
governmental actions, or by the activities of participants in the relevant markets. Any of these events
or activities could adversely affect the value of the Notes.
The market value of the Notes may not reflect the Redemption Amount
The Issuer may apply to the London Stock Exchange for the Notes to be admitted to trading on a
regulated market in Italy or the United Kingdom. However, the Issuer is not required to maintain a
listing on any exchange.
Even if any such application for admission is approved and a secondary market for the Notes
develops, it may not provide significant liquidity or trade at prices advantageous to the Noteholder.
The price at which the Notes trade on any exchange on which they are traded or quoted may not
reflect the applicable Redemption Amount and may be less than the initial investment. As well as the
factors affecting the value of the Index, the market value of the Notes may also be affected by supply
and demand for the Notes, including to the extent affected by inventory positions with the Issuer or
any market maker.
Economic, financial, political, regulatory, geographical, agricultural, judicial or other events which
affect the investment climate and economic sentiment could affect the market price of the Notes. Such
risks apply generally to any investment in listed securities.
Possible illiquidity of Italian Certificates in the secondary market where there is no offer to
institutional investors or if the Italian Certificates are not admitted to trading on a regulated
market or other trading venue
There may be less liquidity in the secondary market for Italian Certificates if the Italian Certificates
are exclusively offered to retail investors without any offer to institutional investors and/or not listed
on a regulated market or other trading venue. Where the Italian Certificates are traded on the SeDeX
Market, the Issuer (or an entity on behalf of the Issuer) will, for so long as the rules of the SeDeX
Market so require, display continuous “bid” and “offer” prices for such Italian Certificates, in
accordance with the rules of the SeDeX Market.
The Italian Certificates may also be traded on trading venues governed by applicable laws and
regulations in force from time to time, such as multilateral trading systems, bilateral systems, or
equivalent trading systems. Where trading in the Italian Certificates takes place outside such trading
systems, the manner in which the price of such Italian Certificates is determined may be less
transparent and the liquidity of such Italian Certificates may be adversely affected.
The appointment of an entity acting as market-maker or liquidity provider with respect to the Italian
Certificates in the secondary market may, under certain circumstances, impact on the price of the
Italian Certificates in the secondary market.
Valuation of Italian Certificates in the secondary market
Investors should note that the Offer Price of the Italian Certificates may include subscription fees,
placement fees, structuring fees and/or other additional costs or inducements. Any such fees may not
be taken into account for the purposes of determining the price of such Italian Certificates in the
26
secondary market and could result in a difference between the theoretical value of the Italian
Certificates and the actual bid/offer price quoted by any intermediary in the secondary market.
Any such difference may have an adverse effect on the value of the Italian Certificates, particularly
immediately following the Offer and the Issue Date relating to such Italian Certificates, where any
such fees and/or costs may be deducted from the price at which such Italian Certificates can be sold
by the initial investor in the secondary market.
Factors impacting the price of commodities generally will affect the level of the relevant Index
and the value of the Notes
Each Index is composed of futures contracts on one or more physical commodities
(the “Component Contracts”). Trading in commodities generally and trading in the Component
Contracts associated with such commodities is speculative and can be extremely volatile. Market
prices of the physical commodities represented in an Index (“Index Commodities”) and Component
Contracts may fluctuate rapidly based on numerous factors, including:
changes in supply and demand relationships;
weather;
agriculture;
trade;
fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs;
domestic and foreign political, military and economic events and policies;
disease;
technological developments;
changes in currency exchange rates;
changes in interest rates; and
general market conditions.
These factors may affect the level of an Index and the value of the Notes in varying ways, and
different factors may cause the value of the Component Contracts and Index Commodities, and the
volatilities of their prices, to move in inconsistent directions at inconsistent rates. For example,
because certain of the commodities underlying the Component Contracts may be produced in a
limited number of countries and may be controlled by a small number of producers, political,
economic and supply related events in such countries could have a disproportionate impact on the
level of an Index.
These factors interrelate in complex ways, and the effect of one factor on the market value of the
Notes may offset or enhance the effect of another factor.
Higher future prices of the Component Contracts relative to their current prices may decrease
the Redemption Amount
Unlike equities, which typically entitle the holder to a continuing stake in a corporation, commodity
futures contracts normally specify a certain date for delivery of the underlying physical commodity.
27
As the Component Contracts approach expiration, they are replaced by contracts that have a later
expiration. Thus, for example, a contract purchased and held in August may specify an October
expiration. As time passes, the contract expiring in October is replaced by a contract for delivery in
November. This process is referred to as “rolling”. If the market for these contracts is (putting aside
other considerations) in “backwardation”, where the prices are lower in the distant delivery months
than in the nearer delivery months, the sale of the October contract would take place at a price that is
higher than the price of the November contract, thereby creating a “roll yield”. While many of the
contracts which may be included in an Index have historically exhibited consistent periods of
backwardation, backwardation will most likely not exist at all times. Moreover, certain of the
commodities which may be included in an Index, such as gold, have historically traded in “contango”
markets. Contango markets are those in which the prices of contracts are higher in the distant delivery
months than in the nearer delivery months. The absence of backwardation in the commodity markets
could result in negative “roll yields” which could adversely affect the value of the Index and,
accordingly, adversely affect the value of the Notes.
Changes in the composition and calculation of an Index will affect the value of the Notes
Each Index is overseen and managed by the CMCI Governance Committee, in consultation with the
CMCI Advisory Committee (the CMCI Governance Committee and the CMCI Advisory Committee
together, the “Index Committees”). The Index Committees, with the agreement of the Index
Sponsors, may amend the composition of and methodology for calculating any Index, including
additions, deletions and the weightings of the Index Commodities, all of which could affect the Index
Ending Level and, therefore the Redemption Amount and the market value of the Notes. When
considering changes to an Index the Index Committees do not have any obligation to take the needs of
any parties to transactions involving an Index, including the holders of the Notes, into consideration
when re-weighting or making any other changes to an Index.
The bi-annual composition of an Index is calculated in reliance upon historic price, liquidity and
production data that are subject to potential errors in data sources or errors that may affect the
weighting of components of an Index. Any revisions to correct discrepancies are not applied
retroactively but will be reflected in prospective weighting calculations of an Index for the following
year. However, there can be no guarantee that every discrepancy will be discovered.
Disruptions to the calculation and/or publication of an Index
Noteholders should be aware that if on or prior to any Valuation Date the Calculation Agent
determines that (i) any Index Sponsor has made a material change in the formula for or the method of
calculating the relevant Index or (ii) any Index Sponsor has failed to calculate and announce the
relevant Index, the Calculation Agent has certain discretions relating to determining the Index Ending
Level.
If the relevant Index is not calculated and announced by the original Index Sponsors but is calculated
and announced by a successor sponsor acceptable to the Calculation Agent or replaced by an index
using, in the determination of the Calculation Agent, the same or substantially similar formula for and
method of calculation as used in the calculation of the relevant Index, the relevant Index will be
deemed to be the index so calculated and announced by that successor sponsor or that successor Index
as the case may be.
If the Calculation Agent determines that a Valuation Date is a Disrupted Day then it will determine
the level of the relevant Index in accordance with the prospectus mechanisms. As a result, the
applicable Redemption Date or Trade Date for the Notes could be postponed.
Limited performance history
28
The CMCI Index Family was launched on January 29, 2007. Certain Indices are intended to represent
a benchmark for commodities investments; however, the methodology used to achieve this
benchmarking has a limited history of application. It cannot therefore be determined at this point
whether, or the extent to which, any Index will serve as an adequate benchmark for the performance
of the relevant commodities market or markets. Moreover, while each composite Index is subject to
bi-annual review and rebalancing in order to maintain the intended commodity weightings, it is
uncertain how successful the Index Committees will be in achieving their goal of maintaining an
appropriate benchmark.
Historical levels of any Index should not be taken as an indication of future performance
The actual performance of any Index over the term of the Notes, as well as the Redemption Amount,
may bear little relation to the historical performance of that Index. The trading prices of the
Component Contracts will determine the level of an Index on any given Valuation Date. As a result, it
is impossible to predict whether the level of an Index will rise or fall.
Suspension or disruptions of market trading in Component Contracts and related futures
markets may adversely affect the value of the Notes
The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various
factors, including the lack of liquidity in the markets, the participation of speculators and government
regulation and intervention. In addition, some futures exchanges have regulations that limit the
amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices that may occur during a single business day. These
limits are generally referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” and the maximum or minimum price
of a contract on any given day as a result of these limits is referred to as a “limit price”. Once the limit
price has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made at a different price. Limit prices
have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at
disadvantageous times or prices. These circumstances could adversely affect the level of an Index
referable to any such Component Contracts and, therefore, the value of the Notes.
The LME’s use of or omission to use price controls
Certain of the Component Contracts are traded on the London Metal Exchange (“LME”). The LME
has no daily price fluctuation limits to restrict the extent of daily fluctuations in the prices of contracts
traded on it, including the Component Contracts. In a declining market, therefore, it is possible that
prices for one or more contracts, including any Component Contracts, that are traded on the LME,
would continue to decline without limitation within a Trading Day or over a period of Trading Days.
A steep decline in the price of a Component Contract could have a significant adverse impact on the
level of the Index and, therefore, the value of the Notes.
Moreover, the LME has discretion to impose “backwardation limits” by permitting short sellers who
are unable to effect delivery of an underlying commodity and/or borrow such commodity at a price
per day that is no greater than the backwardation limit to defer their delivery obligations by paying a
penalty in the amount of the backwardation limit to buyers for whom delivery was deferred.
Backwardation limits tend to either constrain appreciation or cause depreciation of the prices of
futures contracts expiring in near delivery months. For example, in response to a drop in nickel stocks
to historically low levels in August 2006, the LME imposed a backwardation limit on nickel of $300
per tonne per day, which limit was subsequently lifted on November 11, 2006. Similar impositions of
backwardation limits in the future could adversely affect the level of an Index which includes
Component Contracts tracked on the LME and, therefore, the value of the corresponding Notes.
Concentration of particular Component Contracts in an Index
An Index may be comprised fully or to a significant extent of Component Contracts representing
either a particular commodity sector (such as agriculture) or commodity. Investment in the Notes
29
linked to any such Index will result in increased exposure to fluctuations in the commodity sectors or
commodities underlying that Index.
For example, approximately 35% of the Component Contracts in the CMCI Composite Index are
currently energy oriented, including 19% in crude oil. Accordingly, a decline in value of such raw
materials would adversely affect the level of the CMCI Composite Index and the value of any Notes
priced by reference to that Index.
Technological advances or the discovery of new oil reserves could lead to increases in worldwide
production of oil and corresponding decreases in the price of crude oil. In addition, further
development and commercial exploitation of alternative energy sources, including solar, wind or
geothermal energy, could lessen the demand for crude oil products and result in lower prices. Absent
an amendment of the CMCI Composite Index to lessen or eliminate the concentration of existing
energy contracts comprised in the Index or to broaden the CMCI Composite Index to account for such
developments, the level of the CMCI Composite Index and the value of any Notes valued by reference
to it could decline.
Changes in the notional rate of interest may affect the value of a Total Return Index and the
corresponding Notes
Because the value of each Total Return Index is linked, in part, to the notional rate of return that could
be earned on securities theoretically deposited as margin for hypothetical positions in the futures
contracts comprising the Index, changes in that rate of interest may affect the amount payable on any
Notes priced by reference to that Index upon Redemption and, therefore, the market value of such
Notes. Assuming the trading prices of the Component Contracts remain constant, an increase in the
relevant rate of interest will increase the value of each Total Return Index and, therefore, the value of
any Notes priced by reference to that Total Return Index. Correspondingly, a decrease in the relevant
rate of interest will adversely impact the value of a Total Return Index and, therefore, the value of any
Notes valued by reference to that Total Return Index.
No adjustments for exchange rates
Although Component Contracts are traded in various currencies which may not correspond with the
currency in which particular Notes are denominated, the Redemption Amount will not, unless
otherwise specified in the relevant Final Terms, be adjusted to compensate for exchange rate
fluctuations between the currency of denomination and any of the other currencies in which the
Component Contracts are quoted. Therefore, if the applicable currencies appreciate or depreciate
relative to the currency of denomination over the term of the Notes, Noteholders will not receive any
additional payment and may incur a reduction in the Redemption Amount. Changes in exchange rates
may reflect changes in various economies that in turn may affect the return on the Notes.
In addition, to the extent that a Noteholder values its Notes in another currency, that value will be
affected by changes in the exchange rate between the currency of denomination and that other
currency.
Taxes and other duties
All taxes or other duties payable at the level of the Issuer or the Noteholders on payments made in
relation to the Notes are to be borne by the Noteholders. The Issuer will not pay any additional
amounts to the Noteholders on account of any such taxes or duties.
It is not possible to predict whether the tax regime on the basis of which the net values relating to any
amount payable to Noteholders as at the date of publication of the applicable Final Terms may be
amended during the life of the Notes, nor can it be excluded that, in case of amendments, the net
values indicated with respect to the Notes may differ, even substantially, from those which will
30
effectively apply to the Notes as at the various payment dates, as indicated in the applicable Final
Terms.
The sections entitled “Tax Considerations in the United Kingdom”, “Tax Considerations in
Switzerland” and “Tax Considerations in the Republic of Italy” in “Taxation” below set out brief
descriptions of the respective tax regimes applicable to the purchase, subscription, ownership or
disposal of the Notes (including Italian Certificates) for certain categories of investors, based on the
tax laws in force in the U.K., Switzerland and Italy respectively as at the date of this Prospectus,
subject to any changes in the laws which may occur after such date, and which could be made on a
retroactive basis.
Financial transactions with respect to Italian Certificates may be subject to the Italian Financial
Transactions Tax (Tobin Tax)
Pursuant to Article 1, section 492 and following sections of the Decree n. 228/2012, a fixed tax (the
“Financial Transaction Tax”, also called the “Tobin Tax”) may apply on certain financial
transactions (including those linked to an index) entered into after 1 July 2013. The terms of
application and payment of the Tobin Tax will be defined by a Decree still to be issued. The Tobin
Tax will apply at amounts that vary according to the category and value of the transaction and
regardless of the place of conclusion of the transaction and the State of residence of the
counterparties. The amount is due by both the counterparties and paid by the Issuer.
Payments on or with respect to the Notes may be subject to U.S. withholding under FATCA
The Issuer and other financial institutions through which payments on the Notes are made may be
required to withhold at a rate of up to 30 per cent. on all, or a portion of, payments made after 31
December 2016 in respect of (i) any Notes characterised as “obligations” for purposes of the FATCA
grandfathering rules that are not outstanding as of the date that is six months after the date that final
U.S. Treasury regulations define “foreign passthru payments” and (ii) any Notes characterised as
equity (or otherwise not treated as “obligations” under the FATCA grandfathering rules) for U.S.
federal tax purposes whenever issued, pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code (commonly referred to as “FATCA”). This discussion assumes that the Notes would
produce (or could produce) “foreign passthru payments” and cannot produce U.S. source
withholdable payments. Investors should consult their own advisors about the application of FATCA,
in particular if they may be classified as foreign financial institutions under the FATCA rules.
The Issuer is a foreign financial institution (“FFI”) for the purposes of FATCA. If the Issuer agrees to
provide certain information on its account holders pursuant to a FATCA agreement with the IRS (i.e.
if the Issuer is a “Participating FFI”), then withholding may be triggered if: (i) the Issuer has a
positive “passthru payment percentage” (as determined under FATCA) and (ii) (a) a Noteholder does
not provide information sufficient for the relevant Participating FFI to determine whether the
Noteholder is a U.S. person or should otherwise be treated as holding a ‘‘United States Account’’ of
the Issuer, (b) a Noteholder does not consent, where necessary, to have its information disclosed to the
IRS or (c) any FFI that is a Noteholder, or through which payment on the Notes is made, is not a
Participating FFI.
If an amount in respect of FATCA were to be deducted or withheld from any payments on or with
respect to the Notes, the Issuer would have no obligation to pay additional amounts or otherwise
indemnify a Noteholder for any such withholding or deduction by the Issuer, a paying agent or any
other party as a result of the deduction or withholding of such amount. As a result, a Noteholder may,
if FATCA is implemented as currently proposed by the IRS, receive payments that are less than
expected.
A Noteholder that is an FFI (but is not a Participating FFI) and is withheld upon generally will be able
to obtain a refund only to the extent an applicable income tax treaty with the United States entitles the
31
Noteholder to a reduced rate of tax on the payment that was subject to withholding under FATCA,
provided the required information is furnished in a timely manner to the IRS.
FATCA is particularly complex and its application is uncertain at this time. The above description is
based in part on proposed regulations and official guidance that is subject to change.
Trading and other transactions by the Issuer or its affiliates in Index Commodities, futures,
options, exchange-traded funds or other derivative products on Index Commodities or any one
or more of the Indices, may impair the market value of the Notes
As described below under “Use of Proceeds and Hedging”, the Issuer or its affiliates may hedge their
obligations under the Notes by purchasing Index Commodities, futures or options on Index
Commodities or any one or more of the Indices or other commodity-linked instruments, or exchange-
traded funds or other derivative instruments with returns linked or related to changes in the
performance of Index Commodities or any one or more of the Indices, and they may adjust these
hedges by, among other things, purchasing or selling Index Commodities, futures, options or
exchange-traded funds or other derivative instruments at any time. Although they are not expected to,
any of these hedging activities may adversely affect the market price of Index Commodities and the
level of any one or more of the Indices and, therefore, the market value of the Notes. It is possible that
the Issuer or its affiliates receive substantial returns from these hedging activities while the market
value of the Notes declines.
The Issuer or its affiliates may also engage in trading in Index Commodities and other investments
relating to Index Commodities or any one or more of the Indices or other commodity-linked
instruments on a regular basis as part of their general broker-dealer and other businesses, for
proprietary accounts, for other accounts under management or to facilitate transactions for customers.
Any of these activities could adversely affect the market price of Index Commodities and the level of
any one or more of the Indices and, therefore, the market value of the Notes. The Issuer or its affiliates
may also issue or underwrite other Notes or financial or derivative instruments with returns linked or
related to changes in the performance of Index Commodities or any one or more of the Indices or
other commodity-linked instruments. By introducing competing products into the marketplace in this
manner, the Issuer or its affiliates could adversely affect the market value of the Notes.
The Issuer and its affiliates may publish research, express opinions or provide
recommendations that are inconsistent with investing in or holding the Notes
The Issuer and its affiliates publish research from time to time on commodities and other matters that
may influence the value of the Notes, or express opinions or provide recommendations that are
inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Notes. The Notes may be linked to an Index that is
intended to passively track the prices of individual or baskets of commodities and the Issuer and its
affiliates have, in the past, published research or other opinions that calls into question a passive
investment in commodities and opines that commodities may not provide an effective inflation hedge
or portfolio diversification benefits relative to other investments.
Any research, opinions or recommendations expressed by the Issuer or its affiliates may not be
consistent with each other and may be modified from time to time without notice. Investors should
make their own independent investigation of the merits of investing in the Notes and any Index to
which the Notes may be linked.
The business activities of the Issuer or its affiliates may create conflicts of interest
As noted above, the Issuer and its affiliates expect to engage in trading activities related to any Index
and the Index Commodities that are not for the account of holders of the Notes or on their behalf.
These trading activities may present a conflict between the holders’ interest in the Notes and the
interests the Issuer and its affiliates will have in their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions,
32
including options and other derivatives transactions, for their customers and in accounts under their
management. These trading activities, if they influence the level of any Index, could be adverse to the
interests of the holders of the Notes.
The Issuer’s involvement in the Index Committees may conflict with the interests of Noteholders
The Issuer nominates members of the Index Committees. Consequently, the Issuer will be involved in
the composition and management of each Index including additions, deletions and the weightings of
the Index Commodities or Component Contracts, all of which could affect the level of an Index and,
therefore, the Redemption Amount and the market value of the Notes valued by reference to such
Index. Due to its influence on determinations of the Index Committees, which may affect the market
value of the Notes, the Issuer may have a conflict of interest if it participates in or influences such
determinations.
Potential conflicts of interest between Noteholders and the Calculation Agent
UBS AG, London Branch will serve as the Calculation Agent. The Calculation Agent will, among
other things, calculate the Redemption Amount. The Calculation Agent will exercise its judgment
when performing its functions. For example, the Calculation Agent may have to determine whether a
Market Disruption Event affecting Index Commodities or any Index has occurred or is continuing on
the day when the Calculation Agent will determine the Index Ending Level. This determination may,
in turn, depend on the Calculation Agent’s judgment whether the event has materially interfered with
the Issuer’s ability to unwind its hedge positions. Since these determinations by the Calculation Agent
may affect the market value of the Italian Certificates, the Calculation Agent may have a conflict of
interest if it needs to make any such decision.
Potential conflicts of interest relating to distributors
Potential conflicts of interest may arise where the Notes are offered to the public in Italy and/or the
United Kingdom as any distributors will act pursuant to a mandate granted by the Issuer and may
receive commissions and/or fees on the basis of the services performed and the outcome of the
placement of the Notes in such jurisdiction(s).
Certain considerations relating to Public Offers of the Italian Certificates
If Italian Certificates are distributed by means of a Public Offer in Italy, under certain circumstances
set out in the applicable Final Terms, the Issuer and/or the other entities indicated in the applicable
Final Terms will have the right to withdraw or revoke the offer, and the offer will be deemed to be
null and void according to the terms indicated in the applicable Final Terms. In such case, any
amounts segregated by a distributor as intended payment of the offer price by an investor will be
released to the relevant investor by the distributor but may or may not accrue interest depending on
the agreements between the investor and the relevant distributor or depending on the policies applied
by the distributor in this regard. In these circumstances, there may also be a time lag in the release of
any such amounts and, unless otherwise agreed with the relevant distributor, no amount will be
payable as compensation and the applicant may be subject to reinvestment risk.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Final Terms, the Issuer and/or the other entities specified
in the applicable Final Terms may terminate the offer early by immediate suspension of the
acceptance of further subscription requests and by giving notice to the public in accordance with the
applicable Final Terms. Any such termination may occur, even where the maximum amount for
subscription in relation to that offer (as specified in the applicable Final Terms), has not been reached
and, in such circumstances, the early closing of the offer may have an impact on the aggregate number
of the Italian Certificates issued and, therefore, may have an adverse effect on the liquidity of the
Italian Certificates.
33
Furthermore, under certain circumstances, the Issuer and/or the other entities indicated in the
applicable Final Terms, will have the right to postpone the originally designated issue date. For the
avoidance of doubt, this right also applies in the event that the Issuer publishes a supplement to the
Prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive. In the event
that the issue date is so delayed, no compensation or amount in respect of interest shall be payable or
otherwise accrue in relation to such Italian Certificates unless otherwise agreed between the holder
and the relevant distributor as payable by the distributor or the policies of the distributor otherwise
provide for the distributor to make any such payments.
Substitution of the Issuer
In certain circumstances, the Issuer is entitled at any time, without the consent of the Noteholders, to
substitute for itself as principal obligor under the Notes, or the Notes of any Series, any company
being an Affiliate of the Issuer (the “New Issuer”). In that case, the Noteholders will generally also
assume the insolvency risk with regard to the New Issuer.
In the case of Italian Certificates, for so long as (a) the Italian Certificates are admitted to listing on
the SeDeX Market and (b) the Italian Stock Exchange Rules so require, the obligations of the New
Issuer in respect of the Italian Certificates will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the
Issuer.
Certifications in connection with holding Notes and payments
The Notes are subject to provisions concerning delivery of certification. The failure to deliver any
certifications required by the Conditions could result in the loss or inability to receive amounts
otherwise due under the Notes. Prospective investors should review the Conditions to ascertain
whether and how such provisions apply to the Notes. In particular the Issuer may require certification
as to non-U.S. status of holders of the Notes. The failure to provide such certification may result in the
delay or denial of payments under the Notes.
Notes not exercised in accordance with the Conditions may expire worthless. Prospective
investors should review the Conditions to ascertain whether the Notes are subject to automatic
exercise, and when and how an exercise notice may be validly delivered.
34
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This Base Prospectus comprises a base prospectus in respect of all Notes issued under the Programme
for the purposes of Article 5(4) of Directive 2003/71/EC as amended (which includes the amendments
made by Directive 2010/73/EU to the extent that such amendments have been implemented in the
relevant Member State of the European Economic Area) (the “Prospectus Directive”). UBS AG,
having its registered head office at Bahnhofstrasse 45, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland, and Aeschenvorstadt
1, 4051 Basle, Switzerland (the “Issuer”), assumes responsibility for the content of this Base
Prospectus and declares that information contained in this Base Prospectus is to the best of its
knowledge in accordance with the facts and that no material circumstances have been omitted.
This Base Prospectus is to be read in conjunction with all documents which are deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference (see “Documents Incorporated by Reference”). This Base Prospectus
shall be read and construed on the basis that such documents are incorporated and form part of this
Base Prospectus.
The requirement to publish a prospectus under the Prospectus Directive only applies to Notes which
are to be admitted to trading on a regulated market in the European Economic Area and/or offered to
the public in the European Economic Area other than in circumstances where an exemption is
available under Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive (as implemented in the relevant Member
State(s)). No person is or has been authorised by the Issuer to give any information or to make any
representation not contained in or not consistent with this Base Prospectus or any other information
supplied in connection with the Programme or the Notes and, if given or made, such information or
representation must not be relied upon as having been authorised by the Issuer.
Neither this Base Prospectus nor any other information supplied in connection with the Programme or
any Notes (a) is intended to provide the basis of any credit or other evaluation or (b) should be
considered as a recommendation by the Issuer that any recipient of this Base Prospectus or any other
information supplied in connection with the Programme or any Notes should purchase any Notes.
Each investor contemplating purchasing any Notes should reach their own views prior to making an
investment decision. Neither this Base Prospectus nor any other information supplied in connection
with the Programme or the issue of any Notes constitutes an offer or invitation by or on behalf of the
Issuer to any person to subscribe for or to purchase any Notes.
Subject to the Issuer’s obligations to mention in a supplement to this Base Prospectus every
significant new factor, material mistake or inaccuracy relating to the information included in the Base
Prospectus which is capable of affecting the assessment of the Notes and which arises or is noted
between the time when the Base Prospectus is approved and the final closing of the relevant offer to
the public or, as the case may be, the time when trading on a regulated market begins, neither the
delivery of this Base Prospectus nor the offering, sale or delivery of any Notes shall in any
circumstances imply that the information contained herein concerning the Issuer is correct at any time
subsequent to the date hereof or that any other information supplied in connection with the
Programme is correct as of any time subsequent to the date indicated in the document containing the
same.
The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the
“Securities Act”), as amended, or under the securities laws of any states of the United States. The
Notes may not be offered, sold, transferred, pledged, delivered, exercised or redeemed, directly or
indirectly, at any time within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. person
(as defined in Regulation S (“Regulation S”) under the Securities Act) or any United States person
(as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended) or to persons who do not come
within the definition of non-United States person under Rule 4.7 of the U.S. Commodity Exchange
Act of 1936 as amended. The Notes may not be legally or beneficially owned at any time by any U.S.
35
person and accordingly are being offered and sold outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in
reliance on Regulation S. Furthermore, trading in the Notes has not been approved by the United
States Commodity Futures Trading Commission under the United States Commodity Exchange Act,
and no U.S. person may at any time trade or maintain a position in the Notes.
The Issuer’s long-term senior debt is rated A by Fitch Ratings Limited (“Fitch”), A2 by Moody's
Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and A by Standard & Poor's Credit Market Services Europe
Limited (“S&P”). The Notes themselves have not been rated. Fitch and S&P are established in the
European Union and are registered under Regulation (EC) No. 1060/2009 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 16 September 2009 (the “CRA Regulation”). The rating from Moody's has
been issued by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., which is not established in the EEA and is not
certified under the CRA Regulation, but the rating it has issued is endorsed by Moody's Investors
Service Ltd., a credit rating agency established in the EEA and registered under the CRA Regulation.
In general, European regulated investors are restricted from using a rating for regulatory purposes if
such rating is not issued by a credit rating agency established in the European Union and registered
under the CRA Regulation unless the rating is provided by a credit rating agency operating in the
European Union before 7 June 2010 which has submitted an application for registration in accordance
with the CRA Regulation and such registration is not refused. A rating is not a recommendation to
buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to suspension, reduction or withdrawal at any time by
the assigning rating agency. The ratings assigned reflect only the views of the rating agencies.
This Base Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any
Notes in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make the offer or solicitation in such
jurisdiction. The distribution of this Base Prospectus and the offer or sale of Notes may be restricted
by law in certain jurisdictions. The Issuer does not represent that this Base Prospectus may be
lawfully distributed, or that any Notes may be lawfully offered, in compliance with any applicable
registration or other requirements in any such jurisdiction, or pursuant to an exemption available
thereunder, or assume any responsibility for facilitating any such distribution or offering. In
particular, unless specifically indicated to the contrary in the applicable Final Terms, no action has
been taken by the Issuer which is intended to permit a public offering of any Notes or distribution of
this Base Prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, no
Notes may be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this Base Prospectus nor any
advertisement or other offering material may be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except
under circumstances that will result in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations. Persons
into whose possession this Base Prospectus or any Notes may come must inform themselves about,
and observe, any such restrictions on the distribution of this Base Prospectus and the offering and sale
of Notes. In particular, there are restrictions on the distribution of this Base Prospectus and the offer
or sale of Notes in the United States, the European Economic Area (including the United Kingdom)
and Switzerland.
The Notes may not be a suitable investment for all investors. Each potential investor in the Notes
must determine the suitability of that investment in light of its own circumstances. In particular, each
potential investor should, either on its own or with the help of its financial and other professional
advisers:
(i) have sufficient knowledge and experience to make a meaningful evaluation of the Notes, the
merits and risks of investing in the Notes and the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this Base Prospectus or any applicable supplement or any applicable drawdown
prospectus and all information contained in the relevant Final Terms;
(ii) have access to, and knowledge of, appropriate analytical tools to evaluate, in the context of
its particular financial situation, an investment in the Notes and the impact the Notes will
have on its overall investment portfolio;
36
(iii) have sufficient financial resources and liquidity to bear all of the risks of an investment in the
Notes, including Notes where the currency for principal or interest payments is different from
the potential investor's currency;
(iv) understand thoroughly the terms of the Notes and be familiar with the behaviour of the
relevant indices and financial markets;
(v) be able to evaluate possible scenarios for economic, interest rate and other factors that may
affect its investment and its ability to bear the applicable risks; and
(vi) understand the accounting, legal, regulatory and tax implications of purchasing, holding and
disposing of an interest in the Notes.
Legal investment considerations may restrict certain investments. The investment activities of certain
investors are subject to legal investment laws and regulations, or review or regulation by certain
authorities. Each potential investor should consult its legal advisers to determine whether and to what
extent (1) Notes are legal investments for it, (2) Notes can be used as collateral for various types of
borrowing and (3) other restrictions apply to its purchase or pledge of any Notes. Financial
institutions should consult their legal advisors or the appropriate regulators to determine the
appropriate treatment of Notes under any applicable risk-based capital or similar rules.
Investors’ Reliance on U.S. Federal Tax Advice in this Base Prospectus
This Base Prospectus does not contain any discussion of U.S. federal tax considerations associated
with buying, selling or holding the Notes or beneficial interests in the Notes. The disclosure included
herein is intended to warn investors that the Notes are not intended to be bought, sold or held by U.S.
persons and nothing in this Base Prospectus may be used as U.S. tax advice or for the purpose of
avoiding any payment of U.S. tax penalties. Each taxpayer should seek U.S. federal tax advice based
on the taxpayer’s particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
37
IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFERS OF NOTES
Restrictions on Public offers of Notes in Relevant Member States
Certain Series of Notes with a denomination of less than EUR 100,000 (or its equivalent in any other
currency) may be offered in circumstances where there is no exemption from the obligation under the
Prospectus Directive to publish a prospectus. Any such offer is referred to as a “Public Offer”. This
Base Prospectus has been prepared on a basis that permits Public Offers of Notes. However, any
person making or intending to make a Public Offer of Notes in any Member State of the European
Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”)
may only do so if this Base Prospectus has been approved by BaFin and application has been made to
BaFin to provide the competent authority in that Relevant Member State with a certificate attesting
that the Base Prospectus has been drawn up in accordance with the German Securities Prospectus Act
which implements the Prospectus Directive into German law, provided that the Issuer has consented
to the use of this Base Prospectus in connection with such offer as provided below and the terms of
that consent are complied with by the person (the “Offeror”) making the Public Offer of such Notes.
Save as provided above, the Issuer has not authorised, nor does it authorise, the making of any Public
Offer of Notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for the Issuer to publish or supplement a
prospectus for such offer.
Consent given in accordance with Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive (Retail Cascades)
Any person (an “Investor”) intending to acquire or acquiring any Notes from any Offeror other than
the Issuer should be aware that, in the context of a Public Offer of such Notes, the Issuer will be
responsible to the Investor for this Base Prospectus under the legislation of the Relevant Member
State where such Public Offer is made, only if the Issuer has consented to the use of this Base
Prospectus by that Offeror to make the Public Offer to the Investor. The Issuer does not make any
representation as to the compliance by that Offeror with any applicable conduct of business rules or
other applicable regulatory or securities law requirements in relation to any Public Offer and the
Issuer has no responsibility or liability for the actions of that Offeror. Save as provided below, the
Issuer has not authorised the making of any Public Offer by any Offeror or consented to the use of this
Base Prospectus by any other person in connection with any Public Offer of Notes. Any Public Offer
made without the consent of the Issuer is unauthorised and the Issuer does not accept any
responsibility or liability for the actions of the persons making any such unauthorised offer. If the
Issuer has not consented to the use of this Base Prospectus by an Offeror, the Investor should check
with the Offeror whether anyone is responsible for this Base Prospectus for the purposes of the
legislation of the Relevant Member State where such Public Offer is made, in the context of the
Public Offer and, if so, who that person is. If the Investor is in any doubt about whether it can rely on
this Base Prospectus and/or who is responsible for its contents it should take legal advice.
In connection with each Series of Notes, and provided that the applicable Final Terms specifies an
Offer Period, the Issuer consents to the use of this Base Prospectus in connection with a Public Offer
of such Notes subject to the following conditions:
(i) the consent is only valid during the Offer Period so specified;
(ii) the only Offerors authorised to use this Base Prospectus to make the Public Offer of the
relevant Tranche of Notes are the Issuer and, if the applicable Final Terms names financial
intermediaries authorised to offer the Notes, the financial intermediaries so named or if the
Issuer appoints additional financial intermediaries after the date of the applicable Final Terms
and publishes details of them on its website, each financial intermediary whose details are so
published;
38
(iii) the consent only extends to the use of this Base Prospectus to make Public Offers of the
relevant Series of Notes in Italy and/or the United Kingdom; and
(iv) the consent is subject to any other conditions set out in Part B of the applicable Final Terms.
Any Offeror falling within sub-paragraph (ii) above who meets all of the other conditions stated
above and wishes to use this Base Prospectus in connection with a Public Offer is required, for
the duration of the relevant Offer Period, to publish on its website that it is relying on this Base
Prospectus for such Public Offer with the consent of the Issuer and in accordance with the
conditions set out above.
The consent referred to above relates to Offer Periods occurring within 12 months from the date of
this Base Prospectus. The Issuer accepts responsibility, in the jurisdictions to which the consent to use
the Base Prospectus extends, for the content of this Base Prospectus in relation to any Investor who
acquires any Notes in a Public Offer made by any person to whom consent has been given to use this
Base Prospectus in that connection in accordance with the preceding paragraphs, provided that such
Public Offer has been made in accordance with all the conditions attached to that consent.
The only Relevant Member States which may, in respect of any Series of Notes, be specified in the
applicable Final Terms (if any Relevant Member States are so specified) will be Italy and/or the
United Kingdom, and accordingly each Series of Notes may only be offered to Investors as part of a
Public Offer in Italy and/or the United Kingdom, as specified in the applicable Final Terms, or
otherwise in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Issuer to publish or supplement a
prospectus for such offer.
AN INVESTOR INTENDING TO ACQUIRE OR ACQUIRING ANY NOTES IN A PUBLIC
OFFER FROM AN OFFEROR OTHER THAN THE ISSUER WILL DO SO, AND OFFERS
AND SALES OF SUCH NOTES TO AN INVESTOR BY SUCH OFFEROR WILL BE MADE,
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY TERMS AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE
BETWEEN SUCH OFFEROR AND SUCH INVESTOR INCLUDING AS TO PRICE,
ALLOCATIONS AND SETTLEMENT ARRANGEMENTS. THE ISSUER WILL NOT BE A
PARTY TO ANY SUCH ARRANGEMENTS WITH SUCH INVESTORS IN CONNECTION
WITH THE PUBLIC OFFER OR SALE OF THE NOTES CONCERNED AND,
ACCORDINGLY, THIS BASE PROSPECTUS AND ANY FINAL TERMS WILL NOT
CONTAIN SUCH INFORMATION. THE INVESTOR MUST LOOK TO THE OFFEROR AT
THE TIME OF SUCH OFFER FOR THE PROVISION OF SUCH INFORMATION AND
THE OFFEROR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH INFORMATION. THE ISSUER
DOES NOT HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY TO AN INVESTOR IN
RESPECT OF SUCH INFORMATION.
39
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The following documents which have been filed with BaFin are incorporated in the sections
“Description of UBS AG – 7. Financial Information concerning the Issuer's Assets and Liabilities,
Financial Position and Profits and Losses” and "Risk Factors – Risks regarding the Issuer" of this
document by reference and are available as set out below and at the registered office of the Issuer as
set out under “Directors and Advisers”:
1. the published annual report of the Issuer in the English language for the year ended 31
December 2011, which is available on the Issuer’s website at:
http://www.ubs.com/global/en/about_ubs/investor_relations/annualreporting/2011.html
(filed with BaFin);
2. the published annual report of the Issuer in the English language for the year ended 31
December 2012, which is available on the Issuer’s website at:
http://www.ubs.com/global/en/about_ubs/investor_relations/annualreporting/2012.html
(filed with BaFin);
3. the published reports and accounts of the Issuer in the English language for the quarter ended
31 March 2013, which are available on the Issuer’s website at:
http://www.ubs.com/global/en/about_ubs/investor_relations/quarterly_reporting/2013.html
(filed with BaFin); and
4. the published reports and accounts of the Issuer in the English language for the quarter ended
30 June 2013, which are available on the Issuer’s website at:
http://www.ubs.com/global/en/about_ubs/investor_relations/quarterly_reporting/2013.html
(filed with BaFin).
5. the published reports and accounts of the Issuer in the English language for the quarter ended
30 September 2013, which are available on the Issuer’s website at:
http://www.ubs.com/global/en/about_ubs/investor_relations/quarterly_reporting/2013.html
(filed with BaFin)
6. the risks regarding the Issuer set out in section III on pages 4 - 16 of the Registration
Document dated 22 May 2013 which is available on http://keyinvest-
de.ubs.com/MediaLibrary/5654c606-113a-44a1-a127-01dccd4bbf41/UBS%20AG%20-
%20Registration%20Document%202013%20128651-3-2476%20v0.21_4_Komplett.pdf).
No documents referred to in any of the above documents are themselves incorporated into this
Prospectus and accordingly other than the documents specifically identified above no other
documents (including the contents of any websites referred to in this document) form part of this
Prospectus for purposes of the Prospectus Directive.
Any information not incorporated by reference into this Base Prospectus but contained in one of the
documents mentioned as source documents in the cross reference list above is either not relevant for
an investor or already addressed in another part of this Base Prospectus.
40
INTRODUCTION
General Description of the Notes
The Issuer may, under this Base Prospectus, issue any number of classes and Series of Notes. Each
class and Series of Notes will have a Specified Denomination per Note, which may be expressed in
any currency (except that the Italian Certificates will only be denominated in euros), which will be
specified in the Final Terms for that class and Series. The Notes (other than Italian Certificates) will
have no specified maturity. Up to US$1,000,000,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency) in
aggregate Notional Amount of any Series of Notes may be issued under this Prospectus. Subject to the
limit of US$1,000,000,000 (or the equivalent in any other currency) in Notional Amount of Notes of
any Series, there is no minimum or maximum number or amount of Notes which must be applied for.
The Issuer in respect of the Notes of each Series is UBS AG, a corporation incorporated in
Switzerland, further information in respect of which is set out under the heading “Description of UBS
AG” below. The Issuer will perform its functions in respect of the Notes through its London Branch.
Under the Conditions, the Issuer has a right to change the branch through which it is acting, but a
branch of the Issuer is not a separate legal entity and the Notes will constitute direct, unconditional,
unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer (UBS AG, incorporated in Switzerland). In
addition, under the Conditions the Issuer has a right to substitute for itself, as principal obligor under
the Notes, any of its Affiliates subject to certain conditions specified in the Conditions.
The Notes have been designed to give investors exposure to commodities by linking the Redemption
Amount payable on such Notes to changes in the level of the relevant Index within the CMCI Index
Family (less the Fee Amount).
The Notes will be issued in bearer form and each class and Series of Note will be represented initially
either by a Temporary Global Note which will be surrendered in return for a Permanent Global Note
or by a Permanent Global Note. The Global Notes will be deposited with a common depository for
more than one clearing system including Euroclear and/or Clearstream and, save in respect of any
payments to be made in respect of the Notes, the Issuer will recognise each person (other than
Euroclear or Clearstream) who is for the time being shown in the records of Euroclear or Clearstream
as the holder of a particular amount of Notes.
Each applicable Final Terms will specify in particular the following information concerning the
Notes:
ISIN (International Security Identification Number) or other such security identification
code;
currency of the issued Notes;
issue date of the Notes;
expiration or maturity date;
name of the index;
conditions to which the offer is subject;
total amount of the issue;
time period, including any possible amendments, during which the offer will be open;
description of the application process;
details of the minimum and/or maximum amount of application;
method and time limits for paying up the Notes and for delivery of the Notes.
41
Value and Trading of the Notes
Notes traded on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange will be bought and sold at prices
determined in accordance with Main Market procedures.
Application may be made for the Notes of any class which are Italian Certificates to be listed on the
Italian Stock Exchange and to be admitted to trading on the SeDeX Market. Italian Certificates traded
on the SeDeX Market will be bought and sold at prices determined in accordance with the Italian
Stock Exchange’s procedures.
Where the Italian Certificates are traded on the SeDeX Market, the Issuer (or an entity on behalf of
the Issuer) will, for so long as the rules of the SeDeX Market so require, display continuous “bid” and
“offer” prices for such Italian Certificates, in accordance with the rules of the SeDeX Market. Subject
to market conditions, it is the current practice (but not the legal obligation) of the Issuer to quote on
request an indicative bid and offer price that it might pay or charge for Notes. The Issuer is under no
obligation to hold a price for any length of time unless this is agreed at the time of giving the
indicative price.
Further Information
The detailed terms and conditions applicable to the Notes are set out under the heading “Terms and
Conditions” below and in the applicable Final Terms.
Information regarding United Kingdom, Italian and Swiss taxation in respect of the Notes is set out
under the heading “Taxation” below. If any prospective investor is in any doubt about the tax
position, it should consult a professional adviser.
Your attention is drawn to the remainder of this document, which contains further information relating
to the Notes and the Issuer.
42
DESCRIPTION OF THE CMCI
The UBS Bloomberg CMCI (Constant Maturity Commodity Index) is designed as a family of tradable
indices for global investment in the commodities market. The UBS Bloomberg CMCI has been
developed and is provided by the Issuer and Bloomberg Finance L.P. acting in association with the
Issuer. The complete set of rules of the index and information on the performance of the index are
freely accessible on the Issuer’s website (www.ubs.com/global/en/investment-bank/bloomberg-
cmci.html). The governing rules (including methodology of the UBS Bloomberg CMCI for the
selection and the re-balancing of the components of the UBS Bloomberg CMCI, description of market
disruption events and adjustment rules) are based on predetermined and objective criteria.
Notes may be linked to any of the following UBS Bloomberg CMCI Indices:
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Agriculture Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Agriculture Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Agriculture USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Aluminium Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Aluminium Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Aluminium USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Brent Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Brent Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Brent USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Active Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Active Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Active USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Cocoa Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Cocoa Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Cocoa USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Composite Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Composite Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Composite USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Copper Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Copper Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Copper USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Corn Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Corn Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Corn USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg DJ-UBS Constant Maturity Composite Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg DJ-UBS Constant Maturity Composite Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg DJ-UBS Constant Maturity Composite USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Energy Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Energy Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Energy USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Essence Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Essence Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Essence USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Food Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Food Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Food USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Gold Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Gold Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Gold USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Industrial Metals Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Industrial Metals Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
43
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Industrial Metals USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Livestock Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Livestock Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Livestock USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Natural Gas Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Natural Gas Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Natural Gas USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Platinum Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Platinum Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Platinum USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Precious Metals Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Precious Metals Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Precious Metals USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg SPGSCI Constant Maturity Composite Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg SPGSCI Constant Maturity Composite Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg SPGSCI Constant Maturity Composite USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Silver Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Silver Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Silver USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Sugar Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Sugar Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Sugar USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Wheat Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Wheat Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI Wheat USD Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI WTI Crude Oil Currency Hedged EUR Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI WTI Crude Oil Currency Hedged GBP Total Return Index
UBS Bloomberg CMCI WTI Crude Oil USD Total Return Index
44
COMMODITY FUTURES MARKET
Contracts on physical commodities are traded on regulated futures exchanges, in the over-the-counter
market and on various types of physical and electronic trading facilities and markets. At present, all of
the Component Contracts included in the Indices are exchange-traded futures contracts. An exchange-
traded futures contract is a bilateral agreement providing for the purchase and sale of a specified type
and quantity of a commodity or financial instrument during a stated delivery month for a fixed price.
A futures contract on an index of commodities typically provides for the payment and receipt of a
cash settlement based on the value of such commodities. A futures contract provides for a specified
settlement month in which the commodity or financial instrument is to be delivered by the seller
(whose position is described as “short”) and acquired by the purchaser (whose position is described as
“long”) or in which the cash settlement amount is to be made.
There is no purchase price paid or received on the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Instead, an
amount of cash or cash equivalents must be deposited with the broker as “initial margin”. This amount
varies based on the requirements imposed by the exchange clearing houses, but may be as low as 5%
or less of the value of the contract. This margin deposit or payment provides collateral for the
obligations of the parties to the futures contract.
By depositing margin in the most advantageous form (which may vary depending on the exchange,
clearing house or broker involved), a market participant may be able to earn interest on its margin,
thereby increasing the potential total return that may be realised from an investment in futures
contracts. The market participant normally makes to, and receives from, the broker subsequent
deposits on a daily basis as the price of the futures contract fluctuates. These deposits are called
“variation margin” and make the existing positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a
process known as “marking to market”.
Futures contracts are traded on organised exchanges through the facilities of a centralised clearing
house and a brokerage firm which is a member of the clearing house. The clearing house guarantees
the performance of each clearing member which is a party to the futures contract by, in effect, taking
the opposite side of the transaction. At any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract, subject to
the availability of a liquid secondary market, a trader may elect to close out its position by taking an
opposite position on the exchange on which the trader obtained the position. This operates to
terminate the position and fix the trader’s profit or loss.
45
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The following are terms and conditions which, subject to specification as set out in the relevant Final
Terms, shall apply to any class or Series of Notes.
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Save as set out below, capitalised terms which are used in these terms and conditions bear the
same meanings as defined in the Prospectus.
1.2 The following rules shall apply to the interpretation of these Conditions unless the context
otherwise requires:
1.2.1 Headings to Conditions, paragraphs and other provisions of these Conditions are
inserted for ease of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of these
Conditions.
1.2.2 Any reference to a numbered Condition or paragraph is a reference to that Condition
or paragraph as set out in the terms and conditions.
1.2.3 Any reference to a person or persons includes reference to any individual,
corporations, partnership, joint venture, association, public body, governmental
authority or other entity.
1.2.4 Words in the singular shall also include the plural and vice versa.
1.2.5 Any reference to these Conditions or to any agreement or document includes a
reference to these Conditions or, as the case may be, such agreement or document as
amended, varied, novated, supplemented or replaced from time to time.
1.2.6 References to any statutory provision or statute include all amendments thereto and
re-enactments thereof and all subordinate legislation made thereunder.
1.2.7 Unless otherwise indicated, any reference in these Conditions to a time is a
reference to local time in London, England.
1.2.8 Text in italics is for information only and does not form part of these Conditions.
2. STATUS
2.1 The Notes will be issued in classes, each of which may reference a different relevant Index
and have different Conditions. The Notes of each class will be issued in one or more Series
with different Valuation Dates. The Notes of each Series, of a particular class, will have
identical terms and conditions to all other Notes of the Series and will be represented by the
same Global Note.
2.2 The Notes of each Series are direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and unsecured obligations
of the Issuer and rank pari passu among themselves and (save for certain debts required to be
preferred by law) equally with all other outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated obligations
of the Issuer.
46
3. FORM AND DENOMINATION
3.1 The Notes will be issued in bearer form in the Specified Denomination and, in the case of
definitive Notes, serially numbered. Unless specified in the Final Terms, the Notes of each
Series will be represented by:
3.1.1 a Temporary Global Note relating to that Series;
3.1.2 a Permanent Global Note relating to that Series; or
3.1.3 definitive Notes relating to that Series.
3.2 In the case of Notes initially represented by a Temporary or Permanent Global Note, the
Global Note will be deposited with a common depositary for more than one clearing system,
including Euroclear and/or Clearstream.
3.3 If so specified in the relevant Final Terms, Temporary Global Notes will be exchanged for
either:
3.3.1 a Permanent Global Note which will be held by a common depositary for more than
one clearing system (including Euroclear and/or Clearstream), or
3.3.2 serially numbered definitive notes, in accordance with the provisions set out in the
relevant Temporary Global Note.
A copy of each Temporary Global Note will be available for inspection at the office of the
Issuer.
3.4 The Global Notes will bear the following legend: “This Note, may not be held by, or for the
account or benefit of, any U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities
Act of 1933, as amended) or any United States person (as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended)”.
In the event the Notes of a Series are initially evidenced by a Temporary Global Note, the
Temporary Global Note may be exchanged for interests in a Permanent Global Note or serially
numbered definitive Notes on or after the Exchange Date and only upon receipt of the
certification as to beneficial ownership by a non-U.S. person, as provided in the Temporary
Global Note.
A Permanent Global Note may be exchanged for serially numbered definitive Notes upon the
occurrence of an Exchange Event or at any time at the request of the Issuer. A copy of the
Permanent Global Note will be available for inspection at the office of the Issuer.
3.5 If so specified in the relevant Final Terms, the Notes of any Series may be represented on
issue by a Permanent Global Note.
4. TITLE AND TRANSFER
4.1 The Issuer shall (except as otherwise required by law) deem and treat the bearer of any Note as
the absolute owner thereof (whether or not overdue and notwithstanding any notice of
ownership or writing thereon or notice of any previous loss or theft thereof) for all purposes
but, in the case of any Global Note without prejudice to the provisions set out in these
Conditions.
47
4.2 Subject to these Conditions and the relevant Final Terms, title to the Notes shall pass by
delivery.
4.3 Notes which are represented by a Global Note shall be transferable only in accordance with
the rules and procedures for the time being of Euroclear and/or Clearstream, as the case may
be.
5. REDEMPTION AND PURCHASE
Right to Redeem
5.1 Noteholders who are Financial and/or Credit Institutions, or Additional Entities, may instruct
the Issuer to Redeem the Notes on any Annual Exercise Date at their Redemption Amount, by
giving a Redemption Notice to the Issuer in accordance with Condition 5.9.1, subject to such
day not being a Disrupted Day (in which case Condition 7.1 shall apply).
5.2 Notes must be Redeemed in multiples of the Minimum Redemption Multiple for the relevant
Series, subject to the Issuer’s discretion to reduce the Minimum Redemption Multiple
generally or in the case of a particular Redemption or in the case of Redemptions from any
particular Noteholder. Noteholders may act together, when giving a Redemption Notice
pursuant to Condition 5.1, in order to give such notice in respect of the Minimum Redemption
Multiple for the relevant Series. In order to exercise this Redemption right, a Noteholder (or
two or more Noteholders acting together) must redeem at least the Minimum Redemption
Multiple of Notes of any Series and may only redeem in multiples of this number. Unless
otherwise specified in the relevant Final Terms, the Minimum Redemption Multiple shall be
10,000.
Calculation of the Redemption Amount
5.3 In respect of any Redemption of Notes pursuant to Condition 5.1, 5.7 or 5.12, on the
Redemption Payment Date the Issuer will pay the Noteholder an amount in respect of each
Note calculated to 3 decimal places (the “Redemption Amount”) by the Calculation Agent in
accordance with the following formula:
(Specified Denomination x Index Performance Ratio) - Total Fee Amount,
subject to and in accordance with Condition 6.
5.4 The “Index Performance Ratio” in relation to the Notes of any Series shall be a figure
calculated to 3 decimal places by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following
formula:
Index Ending Level / Index Starting Level
where:
5.4.1 the “Index Starting Level” will equal the Closing Level of the relevant Index as at
the Trade Date, as specified in the Final Terms; and
5.4.2 the “Index Ending Level” will equal the Closing Level of the relevant Index as at
the applicable Redemption Date (or if such date is a Disrupted Day, as determined
pursuant to Condition 7).
48
5.5 The “Fee Amount” shall be an amount calculated daily to 3 decimal places in accordance with
the following formula:
(Fee Level/365) x (Specified Denomination x Current Index Performance Ratio)
and the “Total Fee Amount” shall be the sum of the Fee Amounts for each day from and
including the Trading Day after the applicable Trade Date up to and including the Redemption
Date.
5.6 Notwithstanding Condition 5.3, if the Notes are not Italian Certificates, the Calculation Agent
may in its sole discretion increase or decrease, as the case may be, the Redemption Amount to
account for any income, loss, costs (including hedging costs) and expenses of the Issuer that it
believes are attributable to or as a result of any FX Disruption Event or Interest Disruption
Event.
Compulsory Redemption by the Issuer
5.7 The Issuer may in its absolute discretion Redeem all (but not some only) of the Notes of any
class or Series at the applicable Redemption Amount on any Trading Day, provided that such
Trading Day shall:
5.7.1 be a date not less than 30 days following the Issuer giving notice of its intention to
require such Redemption to the Noteholders; or
5.7.2 be a date not less than 10 days following the Issuer giving notice of its intention to
require such Redemption to each Noteholder in circumstances where such
Redemption is required because the Issuer has determined, in its reasonable
discretion but acting in good faith, that it has or will become unlawful or impractical
beyond reasonable doubt for it to carry out all or any of its obligations under such
Notes, (i) if such Notes are not Italian Certificates, for any reason including, without
limitation, as a result of compliance with any applicable present or future law, rule,
regulation, judgment, order or directive or with any requirement or request of any
government, administrative, legislative or judicial authority and (ii) if such Notes
are Italian Certificates, as a result of compliance with any applicable present or
future law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or directive or with any requirement or
request of any government, administrative, legislative or judicial authority.
Condition 5.3 shall apply in respect of any such redemption.
5.8 The Issuer may Redeem any one or more classes or Series of Notes without Redeeming all
classes or all Series.
Procedure for Redemptions by Noteholders
5.9 The procedure for the Redemption of Notes by Noteholders pursuant to Condition 5.1 shall be
as follows:
5.9.1 a Noteholder wishing to Redeem their Notes should submit to the Issuer a notice
substantially in the form set out in Appendix A to the Prospectus (the “Redemption
Notice”), so as to be received by the Issuer by no later than 12 noon London time on
the Trading Day immediately preceding the Annual Exercise Date on which such
Noteholder wishes the Issuer to Redeem the Notes. The Issuer will confirm receipt
of any Redemption Notice as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt thereof;
49
Different brokerage firms may have different deadlines for accepting instructions
from their customers. Accordingly, as a beneficial owner of the Notes, Noteholders
should consult the brokerage firm through which they own their interest for the
relevant deadline.
5.9.2 on receipt of a duly completed Redemption Notice prior to the time and date
referred to in Condition 5.9.1 the Issuer will send the Redeeming Noteholder a
confirmation, substantially in the form set out in Appendix B to the Prospectus
(the “Redemption Confirmation”) as soon as reasonably practicable following the
publication on such date of the Closing Level of the relevant Index by the Index
Sponsors;
5.9.3 on the Redemption Date the Calculation Agent shall calculate the applicable
Redemption Amount pursuant to Condition 5.3;
5.9.4 a Redeeming Noteholder must instruct:
(i) the clearing system through which its Notes are held to block their account
in respect of their Notes;
(ii) its Euroclear and/or Clearstream custodian to book a delivery versus
payment trade with respect to the Notes to be Redeemed on the Redemption
Date at a price equal to the Redemption Amount; and
(iii) its Euroclear and/or Clearstream custodian to deliver the trade as booked for
settlement via Euroclear and/or Clearstream as at or prior to 10.00 a.m.
London time on the Redemption Payment Date.
5.10 Any Redemption Notice received after 12 noon London time on the Trading Day immediately
preceding the Redemption Date shall be invalid, subject to the Issuer’s discretion to accept any
Redemption Notices received after 12 noon but before 3 p.m. on the Trading Day immediately
preceding the Redemption Date.
5.11 Any Redemption Notice shall be irrevocable unless the Issuer agrees otherwise.
Additional Redemption Provisions in relation to Italian Certificates
5.12 Italian Certificates shall be deemed to be “certificates” for the purposes of Article (2)(g) of the
Commissione Nazionale per la Società e la Borsa Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as
amended (the “Italian Regulation”) and, with respect to Italian Certificates, references in
these Conditions to “Redemption” and “Redeem” shall be construed, for the purposes of the
Italian Regulation only, as references to “termination” and “terminate”. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the Conditions, provided the Italian Certificates are admitted to
listing on the Italian Stock Exchange and to trading on the SeDeX Market:
(i) subject to Condition 5.13 below, Italian Certificates shall be deemed to be
automatically exercised on the Data di Scadenza, which shall be a Redemption for the
purposes of these Conditions, in respect of which the Issuer shall redeem the Italian
Certificates on the relevant Redemption Date and Condition 5.3 shall apply
accordingly; and
(ii) the Italian Certificates shall be deemed to expire on the Data di Scadenza, and trading
in the Italian Certificates on the SeDeX Market shall cease pursuant to the then
applicable rules of the Italian Stock Exchange.
50
5.13 Provided the Italian Certificates are admitted to listing on the Italian Stock Exchange and to
trading on the SeDeX Market, at any time prior to the Renouncement Cut-Off Time on the
Data di Scadenza, any Noteholder may renounce automatic exercise of its Italian Certificates,
in accordance with the Italian Stock Exchange Rules applicable from time to time, by giving a
duly completed renouncement notice (a “Renouncement Notice”) to the Issuer in the form
and manner specified by the Issuer for this purpose. A form of the Renouncement Notice is set
out at Appendix C to the Prospectus. Once delivered, a Renouncement Notice shall be
irrevocable and the relevant Noteholder may not transfer the Italian Certificates that are the
subject of the Renouncement Notice. If a duly completed Renouncement Notice is validly
delivered prior to the Data di Scadenza, the relevant Noteholder will not be entitled to receive
any amounts payable by the Issuer in respect of relevant Italian Certificates and the Issuer
shall have no further liability in respect of them.
5.14 Any determination as to whether a Renouncement Notice is duly completed and in proper
form shall be made by the Issuer, acting in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner,
and shall be conclusive and binding on the relevant Noteholder.
5.15 Subject as follows, any Renouncement Notice so determined to be incomplete or not in proper
form shall be null and void, unless the Issuer agrees otherwise. This provision shall not
prejudice any right of the person delivering the notice to deliver a new and corrected
Renouncement Notice.
5.16 The Issuer shall use all reasonable endeavours promptly to notify (pursuant to Condition 17) a
Noteholder submitting a Renouncement Notice if it determines that such Renouncement
Notice is not valid, effective, complete or in the proper form. In the absence of fraud, gross
negligence or wilful misconduct on its part, the Issuer shall not be liable to any person with
respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in connection with any notification to a
Noteholder or determination that a Renouncement Notice is not valid, effective, complete or in
the proper form.
Purchases
5.17 The Issuer or any of its Affiliates may at any time purchase Notes of any class or Series in the
open market or otherwise. Such Notes may be held, reissued, resold (at any price) or, at the
option of the Issuer, cancelled.
6. PAYMENTS
6.1 All payments in respect of Notes that are not Italian Certificates will be made by the Issuer in
the Currency of Payment by credit or transfer on the relevant Redemption Payment Date.
6.2 All payments in respect of Italian Certificates will be made by the Issuer in euro on the
relevant Redemption Payment Date to Euroclear or Clearstream for credit to the accounts of
the relevant custodian banks and subsequent on-payment to the Noteholders, in accordance
with the rules of such clearing system(s) and Monte Titoli.
6.3 Subject as provided below:
(a) payments in a Currency of Payment other than euro will be made by credit or
transfer to an account in the Currency of Payment maintained by the payee with,
or, at the option of the payee, by a cheque in such Currency of Payment drawn on,
a bank in the principal financial centre of the country of such Currency of Payment;
and
51
(b) payments will be made in euro by credit or transfer to a euro account (or any other
account to which euro may be credited or transferred) specified by the payee or, at
the option of the payee, by a euro cheque.
6.4 Payments to Euroclear and/or Clearstream will be made in accordance with the rules of such
clearing system(s).
6.5 Payments in respect of definitive Notes will be made against presentation and surrender of
definitive Notes at the specified office of the Issuer, subject to any fiscal or other laws and
regulations applicable in the place of payment.
6.6 Payments in respect of Notes represented by any Global Note will (subject as provided below)
be made in the manner specified in Condition 6.5 in relation to definitive Notes and otherwise
in the manner specified in the relevant Global Note against presentation or surrender, as the
case may be, of such Global Note at the specified office of the Issuer. A record of each
payment made against presentation or surrender of any Global Note will be made on such
Global Note by the Issuer and such record shall be prima facie evidence that the payment in
question has been made.
6.7 The holder of a Global Note shall be the only person entitled to receive payments in respect of
any Notes represented by such Global Note and the obligations of the Issuer will be
discharged by payment to, or to the order of, the holder of such Global Note in respect of each
amount so paid. Each person shown in the records of Euroclear or Clearstream as the
beneficial holder of a particular Notional Amount of Notes represented by such Global Note
must look solely to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, for its share of the payment
so made by the Issuer to, or to the order of, the holder of such Global Note.
6.8 In the absence of gross negligence or wilful misconduct on its part, neither the Issuer nor the
Calculation Agent shall have any responsibility for any errors or omissions in the calculation
of any amount payable in respect of the Notes.
6.9 All payments in respect of the Notes shall be subject to all applicable fiscal and other laws and
regulations, including laws requiring the deduction or withholding of tax (including any
amounts required to be withheld or deducted by the rules of Sections 1471 through 1474 of the
U.S. Internal Revenue Code (or any amended or successor provisions), pursuant to any inter-
governmental agreement or implementing legislation adopted by any jurisdiction in
connection with these provisions, or pursuant to any agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue
Service (“FATCA withholding”) as a result of a holder, beneficial owner or an intermediary
that is not an agent of the Issuer not being entitled to receive payments free of FATCA
withholding), duty, charges, withholding or other payment that may arise as a result of, or in
connection with the ownership, transfer, redemption or enforcement of any of its Notes
(“Noteholder Expenses”). The Issuer may withhold or deduct from any amount payable to the
Noteholders the amount necessary to pay any Noteholder Expenses and no payment in respect
of a Note shall be made until all Noteholder Expenses in respect thereof have been paid or
deducted in full to the satisfaction of the Issuer. A person entitled to receive a payment or
exercising a right to receive a payment under (or entitled to receive any amount at maturity or
exercise under) the Note may be required, upon request by the Issuer and/or its agents, to
certify that neither it nor the beneficial owner of the Note is a U.S. person or is located in the
United States. The Issuer shall have no obligation to pay any additional amounts or otherwise
indemnify any Noteholder for any Noteholder Expenses, including any FATCA withholding
deducted or withheld by the Issuer, any paying agent or any other party.
52
7. DISRUPTION
Disrupted Days
7.1 If any Valuation Date is a Disrupted Day, then the Calculation Agent shall:
7.1.1 as soon as reasonably practicable notify the relevant Noteholders that such
Valuation Date is a Disrupted Day, provided that failure of the Calculation Agent to
notify a Noteholder of the occurrence of a Disrupted Day shall not affect the validity
of the occurrence and effect of such Disrupted Day on that Valuation Date;
7.1.2 subject to Condition 7.2 determine the level of the relevant Index for the applicable
Valuation Date in accordance with the formula for and method of calculating the
Closing Level of the relevant Index as set out in the Technical Document last in
effect prior to the occurrence of the first Disrupted Day, using closing settlement
prices for the Component Contracts determined as follows:
(a) for each Component Contract not affected by the Disrupted Day, the
closing settlement price of such Component Contract on the relevant
Valuation Date; or
(b) for each Component Contract which is affected by the occurrence of a
Disrupted Day, subject to Condition 7.2, the closing settlement price of
each such Component Contract on the first day following the applicable
Valuation Date which is not a Disrupted Day.
7.2 If a Disrupted Day continues to affect any Component Contract for a period of eight
consecutive Trading Days following the applicable Valuation Date, then the Calculation Agent
shall determine the settlement price of such Component Contract by making a good faith
estimate.
Changes to the Index
7.3 If any relevant Index is:
7.3.1 not calculated and announced by the original Index Sponsors but is calculated and
announced by a successor sponsor acceptable to the Calculation Agent; or
7.3.2 replaced by a successor Index using, in the determination of the Calculation Agent,
the same or a substantially similar formula for and method of calculation as used in
the calculation of the Index,
then the Index shall be deemed to be, in the case of Condition 7.3.1, the Index so calculated
and announced by that successor sponsor or, in the case of Condition 7.3.2 that successor
Index, as the case may be.
7.4 The Issuer will notify Noteholders of any such changes in an Index as soon as reasonably
practicable, in accordance with Condition 17.
Correction of an Index
7.5 If on or prior to any Valuation Date the Calculation Agent determines that:
7.5.1 any Index Sponsor has made a material change in the formula for or the method of
calculating the relevant Index or in any other way has materially modified the
53
relevant Index (other than a modification prescribed in that formula or method to
maintain the relevant Index in the event of changes in constituent stock or securities
and capitalisation and other routine events); or
7.5.2 any Index Sponsor has failed to calculate and announce the relevant Index,
then the Calculation Agent shall calculate the Index Ending Level or the Redemption Amount
by using, in lieu of a published level of the relevant Index, the level of the relevant Index as at
the relevant Valuation Date as determined by Calculation Agent (i) in respect of Notes that are
not Italian Certificates, in its absolute discretion and (ii) in respect of Italian Certificates,
acting in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner taking into consideration the
prevailing market conditions before the Market Disruption Event when determining the level
of the relevant Index as at the relevant Valuation Date.
7.6 In the event that any level of an Index published by the Index Sponsor which is utilised for any
calculation or determination in respect of the Notes by the Calculation Agent is subsequently
corrected and such correction is published within the Settlement Cycle for any Component
Contract of such Index after its original publication, to the extent that the Calculation Agent is
aware of the same before:
7.6.1 in the case of a Valuation Date which was a Redemption Date or Fee Amount
Calculation Date, the Redemption Payment Date; and
7.6.2 in the case of any Valuation Date which was a Trade Date, the Issue Date,
the Calculation Agent will make such reasonable adjustments as it determines to be
appropriate to any variable, calculation methodology, valuation, settlement, payment terms or
any other terms in respect of such Notes to account for such correction and notify any affected
Noteholders of such adjustments.
8. FURTHER NOTES
The Issuer reserves the right (without the consent of Noteholders) at any time (a) to issue
further Series and classes of Notes which will rank pari passu with any other unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer, including the existing Notes, and will be represented
by a separate Global Note and (b) to issue further notes ranking pari passu with the Notes and
with identical Conditions as the Notes, which shall be consolidated with and form a single
Series of a particular class with such Notes. In such event, while the existing Notes are
represented by a Global Note, a record of such issue shall be made on such Global Note by the
Issuer and such record shall be prima facie evidence that such further Notes have been issued
on such Conditions.
9. CALCULATION AGENT
9.1 The Calculation Agent’s role shall be:
9.1.1 to calculate the Redemption Amounts, Index Performance Ratio and Fee Amount;
9.1.2 to determine if there has been a material change in the formula and method of
calculating any Index;
9.1.3 to determine whether any day is a Disrupted Day and notify any Redeeming
Noteholders thereof;
54
9.1.4 to determine if an FX Disruption Event or an Interest Disruption Event has
occurred;
9.1.5 if there is a period of eight consecutive Disrupted Days in respect of any Component
Contract, to determine a closing settlement price in respect of each Component
Contract which is the subject of a Disrupted Day in accordance with Condition 7.2;
and
9.1.6 if an Event of Default occurs, to determine a fair market value for all affected Notes.
9.2 Where a substitute value for the Closing Level of an Index is calculated by the Calculation
Agent in respect of a Valuation Date, that substitute value shall be used in the calculation of
the Redemption Amount payable in respect of any Notes which relate to that Index.
9.3 All determinations, estimations and calculations of the Calculation Agent in respect of any
Index and any Notes shall be made in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner and
shall, absent manifest error, be final and binding on Noteholders.
9.4 In making any determination, estimation or calculation, the Calculation Agent shall have
regard to such information or sources as it may deem appropriate.
9.5 The Calculation Agent shall have no responsibility for good faith errors or omissions in any
calculation, estimation or determination it makes in respect of any Index or any Notes.
10. MEETINGS OF NOTEHOLDERS
10.1 In respect of each Series of Notes, each Global Note shall contain provisions (which will apply
to such Notes in definitive form following exchange in accordance with their terms) for
convening meetings of the Noteholders to consider any matter affecting their interests,
including the modification by Extraordinary Resolution of any of the Conditions, Final Terms
or provisions of the Notes. The quorum at any meeting for passing an Extraordinary
Resolution shall be one or more persons present and holding or representing in the aggregate a
clear majority of the Notes of the relevant Series for the time being outstanding, except that at
any meeting the business of which includes the modification of certain of the Conditions the
necessary quorum for passing an Extraordinary Resolution will be one or more persons
present and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than 75 per cent., or at any
adjourned meeting a clear majority, of the Notes of the relevant Series for the time being
outstanding. An Extraordinary Resolution passed at any meeting of the Noteholders of any
Series will be binding on all Noteholders of that Series, whether or not they are present at the
meetings.
10.2 Article M57 et seq of the Swiss Code of Obligations includes mandatory provisions on
bondholder meetings which may apply instead of the provisions described in Condition 10.1
above in relation to meetings of Noteholders.
11. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONDITIONS
11.1 The Issuer may modify the Conditions and/or the provisions of the Notes of any one or more
class or Series without the consent of the Noteholders if the Issuer determines in its sole and
absolute discretion that such modification is:
11.1.1 not materially prejudicial to the interests of Noteholders (without considering the
individual circumstances of any Noteholders or the tax or other consequences of
such adjustment in any particular jurisdiction); or
55
11.1.2 of a formal, minor or technical nature or to correct a manifest or proven error or to
cure, correct or supplement any defective provision or to comply with any
mandatory provision of law of the jurisdiction in which the Issuer is incorporated.
11.2 Notice of any such modification shall be given to the Noteholders in accordance with
Condition 17 but failure to give, or non-receipt, of such notice shall not affect the validity of
any such modification.
11.3 In respect of Italian Certificates, for so long as such Italian Certificates are listed on the
regulated market organised and managed by the Italian Stock Exchange and the Italian Stock
Exchange Rules (as interpreted by it) so require, the Issuer may make, without the
Noteholders’ consent, any amendments to the Conditions and/or the provisions of the Italian
Certificates, which are deemed to be necessary or appropriate in order to remove ambiguities
or inaccuracies or correct formal mistakes, provided that such amendments are not detrimental
to Noteholders’ interests. The Conditions may also be amended by the Issuer, without the
consent of the holders of the Italian Certificates, where so required by the applicable laws and
regulations, including the Italian Stock Exchange Rules. The Issuer shall notify such
Noteholders of such amendments in accordance with Condition 17 and additionally by means
of a notice published on its website and/or any other method permitted for the securities listed
on the SeDeX Market.
12. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
12.1 In respect of any Series of Notes, the occurrence of any of the following events shall constitute
an “Event of Default”:
12.1.1 if the Issuer shall not make payment in respect of any amount due in respect of any
of the Notes of that Series for a period of 30 calendar days or more;
12.1.2 if the Issuer shall not perform any other obligation under the Notes of that Series
which is incapable of remedy or which, being a default capable of remedy,
continues for 60 calendar days or more after written notice of such default has been
given by any Noteholder of that Series to the Issuer;
12.1.3 if any order shall be made by any competent court or other authority or resolution
passed by the Issuer for the dissolution or winding-up of the Issuer or for the
appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator or manager of the Issuer or of all
or a substantial part of their respective assets, or anything analogous occurs, in any
jurisdiction, to the Issuer, other than in connection with a solvent reorganisation,
reconstruction, amalgamation or merger; or
12.1.4 if the Issuer shall (i) stop payment, (ii) shall be unable to, or shall admit to creditors
generally its inability to, pay its debts as they fall due, (iii) shall be adjudicated or
found bankrupt or insolvent, or (iv) shall enter into any composition or other
arrangements with its creditors generally.
12.2 If an Event of Default in relation to the Notes of any Series shall have occurred and be
continuing any Noteholder may, at such Noteholder’s option, declare each Note of that Series
held by the Noteholder to be forthwith due and payable at its fair market value (as determined
by the Calculation Agent, except that for these purposes no account shall be taken of the
financial condition of the Issuer, which shall be presumed to be able to fully perform its
obligations in respect of such Note when due) without presentation, demand, protest or other
notice of any kind, by written notice to the Issuer at its specified office.
56
13. PRESCRIPTION
The Notes shall become void unless presented for payment within a period of ten years from
the date on which such payment first becomes due.
14. SUBSTITUTION
Substitution of the Issuer
14.1 The Issuer may, at any time, without the consent of the Noteholders, substitute for itself as
principal obligor under the Notes of any Series, an Affiliate of the Issuer (the “New Issuer”),
provided that:
14.1.1 the New Issuer shall assume all obligations of the Issuer to the Noteholders under
the Notes of the relevant Series;
14.1.2 either:
(a) the New Issuer must at all times after the substitution have obligations
to Noteholders under the Notes of the relevant Series guaranteed by
UBS AG, as the original Issuer; or
(b) at the time of such substitution the New Issuer has a credit rating which
is at least equal to the long term credit rating of UBS AG as the original
Issuer by any of Standard & Poor’s Credit Market Services Europe
Limited, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., Moody’s
Investors Services Limited or any other reputable international rating
service selected by the Issuer acting in good faith and a commercially
reasonable manner;
14.1.3 all actions, conditions and things required to be taken, fulfilled and done (including
the obtaining of any necessary consents) to ensure that the Notes represent legally
binding, valid and enforceable obligations of the New Issuer have been taken,
fulfilled and done and are in full force and effect; and
14.1.4 the Issuer and the New Issuer have executed such other agreements and documents
as the Issuer deems necessary in order that such substitution is fully effective.
Notwithstanding the above, in respect of Italian Certificates, provided such Italian Certificates
are admitted to listing on the Italian Stock Exchange and to trading on the SeDeX Market, for
so long as the Italian Stock Exchange Rules so require, the obligations of the New Issuer in
respect of such Italian Certificates shall be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by
UBS AG, as the original Issuer.
14.2 Upon compliance with Condition 14.1, the original Issuer shall be relieved of its obligations
under the Notes and any reference in these Conditions to the Issuer shall be construed as a
reference to the New Issuer. In the event of any further substitutions, the provisions of this
Condition shall apply to such further substitution. Notice of any substitution shall be given in
accordance with the Condition 17.
14.3 In connection with any exercise by the Issuer of the right of substitution, the Issuer shall not be
obliged to have regard to any consequences for individual Noteholders as a result of the
substitution, including any consequences resulting from the Noteholders being for any purpose
domiciled or resident in, otherwise connected with, or subject to, the jurisdiction of any
particular country. No Noteholder shall be entitled to claim from the Issuer any
57
indemnification or repayment in respect of any consequence suffered by it as a result of the
exercise by the Issuer of the right of substitution.
Substitution of Branch
14.4 The Issuer shall have the right upon notice to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 17
to change the branch through which it is acting for the purpose of the Notes, the date of such
change to be specified in such notice provided that no change can take place prior to the
giving of such notice.
15. REPLACEMENT OF THE NOTES
If any Note is mutilated, defaced, destroyed, stolen or lost, it may be replaced at the specified
office of the Issuer or such other place of which notice shall have been given in accordance
with Condition 17, upon payment by the claimant of any costs incurred in replacing it and on
any terms as to evidence and indemnity as the Issuer reasonably requires. If any Note is
mutilated or defaced, it must be surrendered before a new one will be issued.
16. CONTRACTS (RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES) ACT 1999
No rights are conferred on any person under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999
to enforce any term or condition of the Notes, but this does not affect any right or remedy of
any person which exists or is available apart from that Act.
17. NOTICES
To the Issuer
17.1 A Noteholder may give any notice to the Issuer by delivering the notice in writing to the Issuer
at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London, EC2M 2PP, United Kingdom (Attn: Equity Operations) or any
other address as may be notified to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 17. Such
notice shall be deemed received when so delivered.
To the Noteholders
17.2 All notices regarding the Notes will be deemed to be validly given if duly published in a
manner which complies with the rules of any stock exchange or other relevant authority on
which the Notes are for the time being listed or by which they have been admitted to trading.
Any such notice will be deemed to have been given on the date of the first publication. In
addition, in respect of Italian Certificates only, provided such Italian Certificates are admitted
to listing on the Italian Stock Exchange and to trading on the SeDeX Market, any notice to the
Noteholders relating to such Italian Certificates shall also be published in accordance with the
Italian Stock Exchange Rules.
17.3 Until such time as any definitive Notes are issued, as long as any Global Notes representing
the Notes are held in their entirety on behalf of Euroclear and/or Clearstream, notices shall be
validly given by the delivery of the relevant notice to Euroclear and/or Clearstream for
communication by them to the holders of the Notes and, in addition, for so long as any Notes
are listed on a stock exchange or are admitted to trading by another relevant authority and the
rules of that stock exchange or relevant authority so require, such notice will be published in a
daily newspaper of general circulation in the place or places required by those rules or
announced through Euroclear and/or Clearstream, required by those rules. Any such notice
shall be deemed to have been given to the holders of the Notes on the day on which the said
notice was given to Euroclear and/or Clearstream.
58
18. EXERCISE OF DISCRETIONS
The Issuer may exercise its discretions in respect of the Notes separately in respect of each
class or Series of Notes in issue from time to time, and shall incur no liability for so doing.
19. GOVERNING LAW
19.1 The Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law.
19.2 The courts of England shall have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or
in connection with the Notes and accordingly any legal action or proceedings arising out of or
in connection with the Notes (“Proceedings”) may be brought in such courts. The Issuer
irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and waives any objection to Proceedings
in any such courts whether on the ground of venue or on the ground that the Proceedings have
been brought in an inconvenient forum. This submission is made for the benefit of each of the
Noteholders and shall not limit the right of any Noteholder to take Proceedings in any other
court of competent jurisdiction nor shall the taking of Proceedings in one or more jurisdictions
preclude the taking of Proceedings in any other jurisdiction (whether concurrently or not).
19.3 The Issuer agrees that the documents which start any Proceedings and any other documents
required to be served in relation to those Proceedings may be served on it by being delivered
to it at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP or at any other address of the Issuer in England
at which service of process may be served on it in accordance with section 1139(2) of the
Companies Act 2006. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process in any other
manner permitted by law.
59
FORM OF FINAL TERMS
Final Terms dated [•]
UBS AG (the “Issuer”)
Issue of [•] [•] in aggregate Notional Amount of [ ] [(to be consolidated with the existing issue of
[ ])]
Under the programme for the issue of UBS ETC Notes linked to the various UBS Bloomberg
Constant Maturity Commodity Index (“CMCI”) Indices
The prospectus referred to below (as completed by these Final Terms) has been prepared on the basis that,
except as provided in sub-paragraph (ii) below, any offer of Notes in any Member State of the European
Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”)
will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in that Relevant
Member State, from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the Notes. Accordingly any
person making or intending to make an offer of the Notes may only do so:
(i) in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Issuer to publish a prospectus pursuant to
Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the
Prospectus Directive, in each case, in relation to such offer; or
(ii) in those Public Offer Jurisdictions specified in Paragraph 3 of Part B below, provided such offer
is made by the Issuer or any other person specified in that paragraph or such person is specifically
authorised by the Issuer to make such offer.
The Issuer has not authorised and does not authorise the making of any offer of Notes in any other
circumstances.
The prospectus referred to below (as completed by these Final Terms) has been prepared on the basis that
any offer of Notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the
Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”) will be made pursuant to an exemption under
the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in that Relevant Member State, from the requirement to publish
a prospectus for offers of the Notes. Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer of the
Notes may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Issuer to publish a prospectus
pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the
Prospectus Directive, in each case, in relation to such offer. The Issuer has not authorised and does not
authorise the making of any offer of Notes in any other circumstances.
The expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including
the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State) and includes
any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression “2010 PD
Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.
PART A – CONTRACTUAL TERMS
This document constitutes the Final Terms of the Notes of the Class and Series described herein for the
purposes of Article 5(4) of the Prospectus Directive and must be read in conjunction with the base
prospectus dated 30 December 2013 [and the supplemental prospectus dated [•]] which [together]
constitute[s] a base prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Directive (the “Prospectus”). Full
information on the Issuer and the offer of the Notes is only available on the basis of the combination of
these Final Terms and the Prospectus. A summary of the Notes (which comprises the summary in the
Prospectus as amended to reflect the provisions of these Final Terms) is annexed to these Final Terms.
60
The Prospectus has been published on [•] 2013. [Copies of the base [and the supplemental prospectus(es)]
may be obtained from [•].]
The final terms relating to the Notes of the Class and Series to which these Final Terms relate are as
follows:
1. Title of the Notes: [•].
2. Italian Certificates: [Applicable / Not Applicable].
3. Denomination of Index: [•].
4. Trade Date: [•].
5. Specified Denomination: [•].
6. Currency of Payment: [•].
7. Additional Business Centre: [•].
8. Number of Notes: [•].
9. Total Number of Notes in Issue
following this Issue:
[•].
10. Aggregate Notional Amount
(being Aggregate Number of
Notes times Specified
Denomination):
[•].
11. Minimum Redemption Multiple: [•].
12. Relevant Index: [•].
13. Index Starting Level: [•].
14. Fee Level: [•].
15. Issue Date: [•].
16. Total Return Reference Rate: [•] / [Not Applicable].
17. Data di Scadenza: [•].
18. Renouncement Notice Cut-Off
Time:
[•].
19. Additional Entities: [•].
20. Form of Notes: [[Temporary Global Note/Permanent Global Note] held by
Common Depositary for Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and
Clearstream Banking, société anonyme.]
61
21. Temporary Global Note
exchangeable for Permanent
Global/Definitive Notes:
[Not Applicable / Temporary Global Note exchangeable
for a Permanent Global Note held by common depositary
for Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and Clearstream Banking,
société anonyme on or after 40 days from Issue Date (or
such later date as may be determined to be the Exchange
Date in accordance with the terms of the Temporary
Global Note) upon certification as to beneficial ownership
by a non-U.S. person].
22. Date on which the Notes will be
consolidated and form a single
Series:
The Notes will be consolidated and form a single Series
with [•] on [the Issue Date/exchange of the Temporary
Global Note for a Permanent Global Note, as referred to in
paragraph [•] above, which is expected to occur on or
about [•] / [Not Applicable].
23. New Global Note: [Yes] [No].
Signed on behalf of UBS AG
By:............................................
Duly authorised
By:............................................
Duly authorised
62
PART B – OTHER INFORMATION
1. Listing and admission to trading
[Application [has been/is expected to be] made by the Issuer to list the Notes on the Official List and
admit the Notes to trading on the Regulated Market of the [London Stock Exchange] [Borsa Italiana
S.p.A] with effect from [•]. [Not applicable.] [The Notes are admitted to trading on the [•].]
2. Distribution
U.S. Selling Restrictions: [Reg. S Compliance Category [1/2/3]; TEFRA D/TEFRA
C/TEFRA not applicable]
Public Offer: [Not Applicable] [An offer of the Notes may be made by
the Issuer [and [•]] other than pursuant to Article 3(2) of the
Prospectus Directive in [•] (the “Public Offer
Jurisdictions”) during the period from [•] until [•]. [The
above consent is subject to the following other conditions
[•].]
3. Terms and Conditions of the Offer
Offer Price: [ ].
Conditions to which the offer is subject: [Not Applicable]/ [ ].
Description of the application process: [Not Applicable]/ [ ].
Details of the minimum and/or maximum amount
of application:
[Not Applicable]/ [ ].
Details of the method and time limits for paying
up and delivering the Notes:
[Not Applicable]/ [ ].
Manner in and date on which results of the offer
are to be made public:
[Not Applicable]/ [ ].
[Categories of potential investors to which the
Notes are offered and whether tranche(s) have
been reserved for certain countries:
[Not Applicable]/ [ ].]
Process for notification to applicants of the
amount allotted and the indication whether
dealing may begin before notification is made:
[Not Applicable]/ [ ].
Amount of any expenses and taxes specifically
charged to the subscriber or purchaser:
[Not Applicable]/ [ ].
Name(s) and address(es), to the extent known to
the Issuer, of the placers in the various countries
where the offer takes place.
[Not Applicable]/ [ ].
4. Estimated net proceeds and total expenses
(i) Estimated net proceeds: [•].
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(ii) Estimated total expenses: [•].
5. Operational Information
(i) ISIN Code: [•].
(ii) Common Code: [•].
(iii) TIDM: [Not Applicable]/ [ ].
(iv) Any clearing system(s) other than
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and
Clearstream Banking, société anonyme
and the relevant identification number(s):
[Not Applicable]/ [ ].
(v) Delivery: Delivery [against/free of] payment.
(vi) Names and addresses of additional
Paying Agent(s) (if any):
[•].
(vii) Settlement: [CREST in the form of CREST depositary
interests / Italian Certificates may be cleared
through the bridge account of Monte Titoli
S.p.A.]
(viii) Branch: The Issuer will perform its functions in respect of
the Notes through its London Branch. Under the
Conditions, the Issuer has a right to change the
branch through which it is acting, but a branch of
the Issuer is not a separate legal entity and the
Notes constitute direct, unconditional, unsecured
and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer.
64
SETTLEMENT
1. EUROCLEAR & CLEARSTREAM
Upon the initial deposit of a Global Note with a common depositary for Euroclear and
Clearstream, Euroclear or Clearstream will credit each subscriber with a nominal amount of
Notes equal to the nominal amount thereof for which it has subscribed and paid. Each person
shown in the records of Euroclear or Clearstream as the holder of a Note represented by a
Global Note must look solely to Euroclear or Clearstream for its share of each payment made
by the Issuer to the bearer of such Global Note and in relation to all other rights arising under
the Global Note, subject to and in accordance with the respective rules and procedures of
Euroclear or Clearstream. Such person shall have no claim directly against the Issuer in
respect of payments due on the Notes for as long as the Notes are represented by such Global
Note and such obligations of the Issuer will be discharged by payment to the bearer of such
Global Note, in respect of each amount so paid.
2. CREST
Where “CREST in the form of CREST depository interests” is stated in the Final Terms to be
applicable to any class or Series of Notes, the Issuer will apply to Euroclear UK & Ireland
Limited (“EUI”) for permission for the Notes of that class or Series to be held and transferred
as CREST depository interests (“CDIs”) through the CREST system (“CREST”) by means of
the CREST International Settlement Links Service (details of which service are contained in
the CREST International Manual (April 2008) issued by EUI) and, in particular, EUI’s links
with Euroclear.
Under the CREST International Settlement Links Service, CREST Depository Limited, a
subsidiary of EUI, issues dematerialised depository interests representing entitlements to the
Notes, known as “CREST Depository Interests” or “CDIs”. CDIs are constituted under
English law, and may be held, transferred and settled within the CREST system using the
same functionality and on the same basis as other securities held in the CREST system.
Accordingly, where CREST settlement applies, following delivery of the relevant Global
Note, the Issuer will procure that an account of CREST Depository Limited’s nominee, CIN
Belgium Limited, with Euroclear will be credited with a number of Notes of the relevant class
or Series corresponding with the number then to be represented by CDIs and held there (until
such time as a CDI holder seeks to exchange its CDIs into Notes). CREST Depository Limited
will then issue CDIs (representing Notes) in the CREST system to UBS AG, as nominee of
UBS Limited, who will then be able to transfer them in the CREST system to purchasers of
Notes.
It should be noted that CDI holders will not be the legal owners of the Notes. Accordingly
they will not be able directly to enforce or exercise any rights relating to the Notes described
in the Conditions (including the applicable Final Terms). In particular, CDIs representing the
Notes do not enable the holders of CDIs to attend and vote at meetings of Noteholders through
the CREST system. If a CDI holder wishes to use such voting rights personally by attending a
meeting of Noteholders, it must first effect a cancellation of its CDIs for their underlying
Notes held with the depository which is a participant in Euroclear before the record date of the
relevant meeting of Noteholders. On so doing, they will, subject to and in accordance with the
Conditions and the procedures of Euroclear, be able to attend and vote in person at the
relevant meeting of Noteholders.
65
3. MONTE TITOLI
Italian Certificates may be cleared through the bridge accounts of Monte Titoli.
66
USE OF PROCEEDS AND HEDGING
The net proceeds of the issue of the Notes will be used by the Issuer outside of Switzerland for its general
corporate purposes, which include making a profit and which may include hedging activities in respect of
the Notes.
In anticipation of the issue of any class or Series of Notes, the Issuer and its Affiliates expect to enter into
hedging transactions involving purchases of securities included in or linked to any Index (or any of its
sub-indices) and/or listed and/or over-the-counter options, futures or exchange-traded funds on Index
Commodities or any Index prior to or on a Trade Date. From time to time, the Issuer or its Affiliates may
enter into additional hedging transactions or unwind those it has entered into. In this regard, the Issuer or
its Affiliates may:
(i) acquire or dispose of long or short positions in listed or over-the-counter options, futures,
exchange-traded funds or other instruments based on the level of any Index (or any of its sub-
indices) or the value of the Component Contracts;
(ii) acquire or dispose of long or short positions in listed or over-the-counter options, futures, or
exchange-traded funds or other instruments based on the level of other similar market indices or
commodities; or
(iii) any combination of the above.
The Issuer or its Affiliates may from time to time acquire long or short positions in securities similar to
the Notes and in their sole discretion, hold or resell those securities.
The Issuer or its Affiliates may close out hedge positions on or before the applicable Redemption Date.
This may involve sales or purchases of Index Commodities, listed or over-the-counter options or futures
on Index Commodities or listed or over-the-counter options, futures, exchange-traded funds or other
instruments based on other indices or other components of the commodities markets.
The hedging activity discussed above may adversely affect the market value of the Notes from time to
time. See “Risk Factors”.
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DESCRIPTION OF UBS AG
1. OVERVIEW
UBS AG (“Issuer”) with its subsidiaries (together with the Issuer, “UBS Group”, “Group” or “UBS”)
draws on its 150-year heritage to serve private, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as
retail clients in Switzerland. UBS's business strategy is centred on its pre-eminent global wealth
management businesses and its, in its own opinion, leading universal bank in Switzerland. These
businesses, together with a client-focused Investment Bank and a strong, well-diversified Global Asset
Management business, will enable UBS to expand its premier wealth management franchise and drive
further growth across the Group. Headquartered in Zurich and Basel, Switzerland, UBS has offices in
more than 50 countries, including all major financial centres.
On 30 September 2013 UBS's BIS Basel III common equity tier 1 capital ratio1 was 17.5% on a phase-in
basis and 11.9% on a fully applied basis, invested assets stood at CHF 2,339 billion, equity attributable to
UBS shareholders was CHF 47,403 million and market capitalisation was CHF 71,066 million. On the
same date, UBS employed 60,635 people2.
The rating agencies S&P, Fitch and Moody's have published credit ratings reflecting their assessment of
the creditworthiness of UBS AG, i.e. its ability to fulfil in a timely manner payment obligations, such as
principal or interest payments on long-term loans, also known as debt servicing. The ratings from Fitch
and S&P may be attributed a plus or minus sign, and those from Moody's a number. These supplementary
attributes indicate the relative position within the respective rating class. UBS AG has long-term senior
debt ratings of A (stable outlook) from S&P, A2 (stable outlook) from Moody's and A (stable outlook)
from Fitch. UBS AG confirms that the above-mentioned information taken from the relevant
announcements of the rating agencies has been accurately reproduced and that, as far as UBS AG is
aware and is able to ascertain from information published by the rating agencies no facts have been
omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading. The following table
gives an overview of the rating classes as used by the three major rating agencies and their respective
meaning. UBS AG’s rating is indicated by the red box.
1 The BIS Basel III common equity tier 1 capital ratio is the ratio of BIS Basel III common equity tier 1 capital to BIS Basel III
risk-weighted assets. The information provided on a fully applied basis does not consider the effects of the transition period,
during which new capital deductions are phased in and ineligible capital instruments are phased out. For information as to how
BIS Basel III common equity tier 1 capital is calculated, refer to the “Capital management” section of UBS’s third quarter 2013
report.
2 Full-time equivalents
68
The rating from Fitch has been issued by Fitch Ratings Limited (“Fitch”), and the rating from Standard &
Poor’s has been issued by Standard & Poor’s Credit Market Services Europe Limited, UK (“S&P”). Both
are registered as credit rating agencies under Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 as amended by Regulation
(EU) No 513/2011 (the “CRA Regulation”). The rating from Moody's has been issued by Moody’s
Investors Service, Inc., which is not established in the EEA and is not certified under the CRA
Regulation, but the rating it has issued is endorsed by Moody's Investors Service Ltd. (“Moody’s”), a
credit rating agency established in the EEA and registered under the CRA Regulation.
No profit forecasts or estimates are included in this document.
No recent events particular to the Issuer have occurred, which are to a material extent relevant to the
evaluation of the Issuer's solvency.
2. CORPORATE INFORMATION
The legal and commercial name of the Issuer is UBS AG. The company was incorporated under the name
SBC AG on 28 February 1978 for an unlimited duration and entered in the Commercial Register of
Canton Basel-City on that day. On 8 December 1997, the company changed its name to UBS AG. The
company in its present form was created on 29 June 1998 by the merger of Union Bank of Switzerland
(founded 1862) and Swiss Bank Corporation (founded 1872). UBS AG is entered in the Commercial
Registers of Canton Zurich and Canton Basel-City. The registration number is CH-270.3.004.646-4.
UBS AG is incorporated and domiciled in Switzerland and operates under the Swiss Code of Obligations
and Swiss Federal Banking Law as an Aktiengesellschaft, a corporation that has issued shares of common
stock to investors.
According to Article 2 of the Articles of Association of UBS AG, dated 14 November 2013 (“Articles of
Association”), the purpose of UBS AG is the operation of a bank. Its scope of operations extends to all
types of banking, financial, advisory, trading and service activities in Switzerland and abroad.
69
UBS AG shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.
The addresses and telephone numbers of UBS AG's two registered offices and principal places of
business are: Bahnhofstrasse 45, CH-8001 Zurich, Switzerland, telephone +41 44 234 1111; and
Aeschenvorstadt 1, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland, telephone +41 61 288 5050.
3. BUSINESS OVERVIEW
3.1 Organisational Structure of the Issuer
UBS AG is the parent company of the UBS Group. The objective of the UBS's group structure is to
support the business activities of the parent company within an efficient legal, tax, regulatory and funding
framework. UBS operates as a group with five business divisions and a Corporate Center. None of the
individual business divisions of UBS or the Corporate Center are legally independent entities; instead,
they primarily perform their activities through the domestic and foreign offices of the parent bank.
In cases where it is impossible or inefficient to operate via the parent bank, due to local legal, tax or
regulatory provisions, or where additional legal entities join the Group through acquisition, the business is
operated on location by legally independent Group companies. UBS AG is the parent company of the
UBS Group. As such, to a certain extent, it is dependent on certain of its subsidiaries. UBS AG's
significant subsidiaries as of 31 December 2012 are listed in its Annual Report 2012 (“Annual Report
2012”) on pages 441-442 (inclusive) of the English version.
3.2 Business Divisions and Corporate Center
UBS operates as a group with five business divisions (Wealth Management, Wealth Management
Americas, the Investment Bank, Global Asset Management and Retail & Corporate) and a Corporate
Center. Each of the business divisions and the Corporate Center are described below. A description of the
Group's strategy can be found in the Annual Report 2012, on pages 24-31 (inclusive) of the English
version; a description of the businesses, strategies, clients, organisational structures, products and services
of the business divisions and the Corporate Center can be found in the Annual Report 2012, on pages 35-
51 (inclusive) of the English version.
3.2.1 Wealth Management
Wealth Management provides comprehensive financial services to wealthy private clients around the
world - except those served by Wealth Management Americas. Its clients benefit from the entire spectrum
of UBS resources, ranging from investment management to estate planning and corporate finance advice,
in addition to specific wealth management products and services. An open product platform provides
clients with access to a wide array of products from third-party providers that complement UBS's own
product lines.
3.2.2 Wealth Management Americas
Wealth Management Americas provides advice-based solutions through financial advisors who deliver a
fully integrated set of products and services specifically designed to address the needs of ultra high net
worth and high net worth individuals and families. It includes the domestic US business, the domestic
Canadian business and international business booked in the US.
3.2.3 Investment Bank
The Investment Bank provides corporate, institutional and wealth management clients with expert advice,
innovative financial solutions, outstanding execution and comprehensive access to the world’s capital
markets. It offers investment banking and capital markets, research, equities, foreign exchange, precious
metals and tailored fixed income services in rates and credit through its two business units, Corporate
70
Client Solutions and Investor Client Services. The Investment Bank is an active participant in capital
markets flow activities, including sales, trading and market-making across a range of securities.
3.2.4 Global Asset Management
Global Asset Management is, in its own opinion, a large-scale asset manager with businesses diversified
across regions, capabilities and distribution channels. It offers investment capabilities and styles across all
major traditional and alternative asset classes including equities, fixed income, currencies, hedge funds,
real estate, infrastructure and private equity that can also be combined in multi-asset strategies. The fund
services unit provides professional services, including fund set-up, accounting and reporting for both
traditional investment funds and alternative funds.
3.2.5 Retail & Corporate
Retail & Corporate provides comprehensive financial products and services to retail, corporate and
institutional clients in Switzerland and maintains, in its own opinion, a leading position in these client
segments. It constitutes a central building block of UBS’s universal bank model in Switzerland delivering
growth to UBS's other businesses. It supports them by cross-selling products and services provided by
UBS's asset-gathering and investment banking businesses, by referring clients to them and by transferring
private clients to Wealth Management when client wealth increases.
3.2.6 Corporate Center
The Corporate Center – Core Functions provides control functions for the business divisions and the
Group in such areas as risk control and legal and compliance, as well as finance, which includes treasury
services, funding, balance sheet and capital management. In addition, it provides all logistics and support
functions including information technology, human resources, corporate development, Group regulatory
relations and strategic initiatives, communications and branding, corporate real estate and administrative
services, procurement, physical and information security, offshoring and Group-wide operations.
Corporate Center – Core Functions allocates most of its treasury income, operating expenses and
personnel associated with these activities to the businesses based on capital and service consumption
levels. Corporate Center – Non-core and Legacy Portfolio comprises the non-core businesses previously
part of the Investment Bank and the Legacy Portfolio, including certain centrally managed positions such
as the SNB StabFund option.
3.3 Competition
The financial services industry is characterised by intense competition, continuous innovation, detailed
(and sometimes fragmented) regulation and ongoing consolidation. UBS faces competition at the level of
local markets and individual business lines, and from global financial institutions that are comparable to
UBS in their size and breadth. Barriers to entry in individual markets and pricing levels are being eroded
by new technology. UBS expects these trends to continue and competition to increase.
3.4 Recent Developments
3.4.1 Results as of and for the quarter and for the nine months ended 30 September 2013, as presented in
UBS's third quarter report 2013 (including unaudited consolidated financial statements).
UBS Group: Net profit attributable to UBS shareholders for the third quarter of 2013 was CHF 577
million compared with CHF 690 million in the second quarter of 2013. Operating profit before tax was
CHF 356 million compared with CHF 1,020 million in the prior quarter. On an adjusted basis3, the third-
3 Unless otherwise indicated, throughout this section “adjusted” figures exclude each of the following items, to the extent
applicable, on a Group and business division level: own credit loss on financial liabilities designated at fair value for the Group
of CHF 147 million in 3Q13 (CHF 138 million gain in 2Q13), gains on sales of real estate for the Group of CHF 207 million
71
quarter profit before tax was CHF 484 million compared with CHF 1,003 million in the prior quarter.
Operating income decreased by CHF 1,128 million, mainly due to declines in net interest and trading
income and net fee and commission income, partly due to lower client activity. The decline in operating
income was partly offset by a CHF 463 million decrease in operating expenses, primarily as a result of
lower personnel expenses and decreased general and administrative expenses. Furthermore, UBS
recorded a net tax benefit of CHF 222 million compared with an expense of CHF 125 million in the prior
quarter and net profit attributable to preferred noteholders was zero compared with CHF 204 million in
the prior quarter. The result included provisions of CHF 586 million for litigation, regulatory and similar
matters. UBS expects elevated charges for litigation and regulatory matters to continue through 2014.
Wealth Management: Profit before tax was CHF 555 million in the third quarter of 2013, broadly
unchanged compared with CHF 557 million in the prior quarter. Operating income declined by CHF 116
million to CHF 1,837 million, mainly reflecting lower transactional income due to lower client activity
levels. Operating expenses declined by CHF 114 million to CHF 1,282 million as the second quarter
included a charge in relation to the Swiss-UK tax agreement. In the third quarter, lower personnel costs
were partially offset by an increase in charges for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters.
Adjusted for restructuring charges, profit before tax increased by CHF 10 million to CHF 617 million
from CHF 607 million. The gross margin on invested assets declined by 5 basis points to 85 basis points,
mainly reflecting the aforementioned lower transactional revenues. All regions contributed to net new
money inflows of CHF 5.0 billion compared with CHF 10.1 billion in the previous quarter.
Wealth Management Americas: Profit before tax in the third quarter of 2013 was USD 218 million
compared with USD 245 million in the prior quarter. Adjusted for restructuring charges, profit before tax
decreased to USD 232 million from USD 256 million in the second quarter. The third quarter of 2013
was adversely affected by lower client activity, trading losses and credit loss expenses related to the
Puerto Rico municipal market and a charge related to the partial settlement of a previously discontinued
US defined benefit pension plan. Net new money inflows decreased to USD 2.1 billion from USD 2.8
billion in the prior quarter, mainly due to lower inflows from recruited financial advisors.
Investment Bank: The Investment Bank recorded a profit before tax of CHF 251 million in the third
quarter of 2013 compared with CHF 775 million in the prior quarter. Adjusted for restructuring charges,
profit before tax was CHF 335 million compared with CHF 806 million. Both Corporate Client Solutions
and Investor Client Services experienced lower revenues, mainly reflecting the seasonal slowdown in
market and client activity. Basel III risk-weighted assets (RWA) on a fully applied basis decreased to
CHF 59 billion as of 30 September 2013 from CHF 67 billion as of 30 June 2013.
Global Asset Management: Profit before tax in the third quarter of 2013 was CHF 118 million compared
with CHF 138 million in the prior quarter. Adjusted for restructuring charges, profit before tax was CHF
130 million compared with CHF 152 million. Lower revenues were only partly offset by lower operating
expenses. Excluding money market flows, net new money outflows of CHF 3.7 billion from third parties
and CHF 0.3 billion from clients of UBS’s wealth management businesses resulted in net outflows of
CHF 3.9 billion compared with net outflows of CHF 1.3 billion in the prior quarter.
Retail & Corporate: Profit before tax was CHF 402 million in the third quarter of 2013 compared with
CHF 377 million in the prior quarter. Adjusted for restructuring charges, profit before tax increased to
CHF 417 million from CHF 390 million. The third quarter results showed higher operating income,
including a gain on sale from the partial divestment of the participation in Euroclear, as well as lower
operating expenses. The net new business volume growth rate was positive 1.3% and included net inflows
from both corporate and retail clients.
(gains on sales of real estate of CHF 19 million in 2Q13), and net restructuring charges of CHF 188 million for the Group in
3Q13 (net restructuring charges of CHF 140 million in 2Q13).
72
Corporate Center – Core Functions: Profit before tax in the third quarter of 2013 was negative CHF 479
million compared with negative CHF 131 million in the previous quarter. Adjusted for gains on sales of
real estate, own credit and restructuring charges, profit before tax was negative CHF 540 million
compared with negative CHF 283 million in the prior quarter. The third quarter included higher charges
for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters. Treasury income remaining in Corporate
Center – Core Functions after allocations to the business divisions was negative CHF 219 million
compared with negative CHF 124 million in the prior quarter.
Corporate Center – Non-core and Legacy Portfolio: Profit before tax was negative CHF 693 million in the
third quarter of 2013 compared with negative CHF 927 million in the previous quarter. The improved
result was mainly due to lower charges for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters in the
third quarter and an impairment charge related to certain disputed receivables recorded in the prior
quarter. Furthermore, the third quarter included a lower gain from the revaluation of the option to acquire
the SNB StabFund’s equity.
Balance sheet: As of 30 September 2013, UBS’s balance sheet assets stood at CHF 1,049 billion, a
decrease of CHF 80 billion from 30 June 2013. Funded assets, which represent total assets excluding
positive replacement values and collateral delivered against negative replacement values for over-the-
counter derivatives, decreased by CHF 23 billion to CHF 742 billion, primarily due to a decline in
collateral trading activities as well as currency movements.
Capital management: UBS’s phase-in BIS Basel III common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio was 17.5% as of
30 September 2013, an increase of 1.3 percentage points from 30 June 2013. The phase-in BIS Basel III
CET1 capital decreased by CHF 0.4 billion to CHF 39.0 billion and risk-weighted assets (RWA)
decreased by CHF 20.3 billion to CHF 222.3 billion, mainly due to a reduction in credit risk RWA. On a
fully applied BIS Basel III basis, CET1 ratio increased 0.7 percentage points to 11.9%, as CET1 capital
decreased by CHF 0.8 billion to CHF 26.0 billion and RWA declined by CHF 20.3 billion to CHF 218.9
billion. Phase-in Swiss SRB leverage ratio increased 0.3 percentage points to 4.2%.
UBS expects the exercise of the SNB StabFund option in the fourth quarter of 2013 to boost its fully
applied and phase-in BIS Basel III CET1 capital ratios by approximately 100 basis points (bps) in the
fourth quarter, an increase on the previous guidance of 70-90 bps and 55-80 bps respectively. UBS
expects the exercise of the SNB StabFund option to result in a 25 bps increase in its Swiss SRB leverage
ratio. It is expected that the remaining assets in the SNB StabFund will be immaterial, amounting to less
than CHF 1 million and CHF 3 million RWA.
Invested assets: Group invested assets stood at CHF 2,339 billion at the end of the third quarter, a
decrease of CHF 9 billion on the prior quarter. Of these, invested assets in Wealth Management increased
by CHF 9 billion to CHF 871 billion due to positive market performance of CHF 17 billion and net new
money inflows of CHF 5 billion, partly offset by negative currency translation effects of CHF 13 billion.
Invested assets in Wealth Management Americas decreased by CHF 12 billion to CHF 831 billion. In US
dollar terms, invested assets increased by USD 27 billion to USD 919 billion, reflecting positive market
performance of USD 25 billion as well as continued net new money inflows. Global Asset Management’s
invested assets decreased by CHF 6 billion to CHF 580 billion as of 30 September 2013 compared with
CHF 586 billion as of 30 June 2013 due to negative currency translation effects of CHF 13 billion and net
new money outflows, partly offset by positive market performance of CHF 13 billion.
Nine months ended 30 September 2013 compared with Nine months ended 30 September 2012 - UBS
Group's performance: Net profit attributable to UBS shareholders was CHF 2,255 million in the first nine
months of 2013 compared with a net loss of CHF 576 million in the same period of 2012.
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Operating profit before tax was CHF 2,823 million compared with CHF 43 million. Adjusted4 profit
before tax decreased by CHF 773 million to CHF 3,386 million from CHF 4,159 million, as higher
charges for provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters were only partly offset by increased
adjusted operating income.
Operating income increased by CHF 2,210 million. On an adjusted basis, operating income increased by
CHF 414 million to CHF 21,414 million, mainly as net fee and commission income increased by CHF
786 million, primarily in UBS's wealth management businesses. This was partly offset by lower net
interest and trading income, which declined by CHF 488 million on an adjusted basis, primarily due to
declines in Corporate Center – Non-core and Legacy Portfolio and Corporate Center – Core Functions,
partly offset by increased revenues in the Investment Bank, partly as the first nine months of 2012
included a loss of CHF 349 million related to the Facebook initial public offering.
Operating expenses decreased by CHF 570 million. On an adjusted basis, operating expenses increased
by CHF 1,187 million to CHF 18,028 million, mainly due to CHF 1,154 million higher net charges for
provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters. Furthermore, the first nine months of 2013
included a charge of CHF 106 million related to the Swiss-UK tax agreement and an impairment charge
of CHF 87 million in Non-core and Legacy Portfolio related to certain disputed receivables. Adjusted
personnel expenses decreased by CHF 63 million, reflecting lower salary expenses due to the measures
taken as part of UBS's cost reduction programs, partly offset by increased financial advisor compensation
in Wealth Management Americas and increased total variable compensation.
3.4.2 Regulatory developments
As announced on 29 October 2013, at the end of the quarter, UBS received an order from the Swiss
Financial Market Supervisory Authority ("FINMA") announcing the imposition, with effect from 1
October 2013, of a temporary 50 per cent. add-on to UBS's advanced measurement approach-based
operational risk-related RWA in relation to known or unknown litigation, compliance and other
operational risk matters. FINMA informed UBS that its decision was based on a comparison of recent
loss history with the capital underpinning for operational risks. Its assessment is not based upon and does
not correspond to the approach required under IFRS for litigation, regulatory and similar matters and
other classes of provisions and contingent liabilities. FINMA will review this temporary add-on
periodically for possible reduction considering the provisions established and the development of the
relevant litigation and other matters over time.
Starting in the fourth quarter of 2013, this temporary FINMA add-on is expected to result in additional
operational risk-related RWA of approximately CHF 28 billion on both a fully applied and a phase-in
basis. Currently, UBS estimates the effect of this will be to reduce its fully applied Basel III CET1 ratios
by 130 basis points. However, as UBS expects the exercise of the SNB StabFund option (mentioned
above) to add around 100 basis points to its fully applied ratio in the fourth quarter, the net effect will be a
reduction of approximately 30 basis points.
UBS continues to target a fully applied Basel III CET1 ratio of 13 per cent. in 2014, and reaffirms its
commitment to a total payout ratio of greater than 50 per cent. after it has achieved this capital target.
4 For the first nine months of 2013, adjusting items were net restructuring charges of CHF 574 million, net gains on sales of real
estate of CHF 227 million, an own credit loss of CHF 189 million, a net loss of CHF 92 million incurred on the buyback of debt
in a public tender offer, a gain of CHF 34 million on the disposal of Global Asset Management's Canadian domestic business and
a net gain of CHF 31 million on the sale of the remaining proprietary trading business. For the same period in 2012, adjusting
items were the impairment of goodwill and other nonfinancial assets of CHF 3,064 million, an own credit loss of CHF 1,788
million, the effects of changes to the Swiss pension plan of CHF 730 million, the effects of changes to a retiree benefit plan in the
US of CHF 116 million, net restructuring charges of CHF 113 million, and net gains on sales of real estate of CHF 3 million.
74
However, in the absence of the complete removal of the abovementioned temporary RWA add-on, UBS's
ambition to achieve a Group return on equity of 15 per cent. by 2015 will be delayed by at least one year.
Furthermore, UBS continues to assess the need for and feasibility of changes to its legal entity structure in
light of regulatory trends and requirements. Among these are regulatory requirements addressing the "too-
big-to-fail" ("TBTF") issue, which will cause financial institutions to modify their legal entity structures
to facilitate resolution in the event of a failure. Swiss TBTF requirements require systemically important
banks, including UBS, to put in place viable emergency plans to continue providing systemically
important functions despite a failure, to the extent that such activities are not sufficiently separated in
advance. The Swiss TBTF law provides for the possibility of a limited reduction of capital requirements
for systemically important institutions that adopt measures to reduce resolvability risk beyond what is
legally required. In view of these factors, UBS intends to establish a new banking subsidiary of UBS AG
in Switzerland. The scope of this potential future subsidiary's business is still being determined, but UBS
would currently expect it to include the Retail & Corporate business division and likely the Swiss-booked
business within the Wealth Management business division. UBS expects to implement this change in a
phased approach starting in mid-2015. This structural change is being discussed on an ongoing basis with
FINMA, and remains subject to a number of uncertainties that may affect its feasibility, scope or timing.
UBS's strategy will remain centered on its wealth management businesses and its leading position, in its
own opinion, as a universal bank in Switzerland, supported by its Global Asset Management business and
its Investment Bank. This process will not require the bank to raise additional equity capital, and will not
materially affect its capital-generating capability.
3.4.3 Repurchase of outstanding bonds in public tender offer
On 18 December 2013, UBS successfully completed a cash tender offer in relation to five Swiss franc,
euro or pound sterling subordinated bonds and six Swiss franc, euro, Italian lira or pound sterling senior
unsecured bonds, launched on 2 December 2013. The aggregate principal amount of repurchased
securities is EUR 1.6 billion, equivalent to CHF 1.9 billion. The subordinated bonds subject to this offer
count as tier 2 capital under the BIS Basel III phase-in rules currently in effect, but are not eligible as tier
2 capital on a BIS Basel III fully applied basis.
This transaction is consistent with UBS’s proactive approach to reducing its balance sheet and future
interest expense while maintaining its strong liquidity, funding and capital position.
This transaction will reduce UBS's BIS Basel III phase-in total capital ratio by approximately 0.4%. UBS
incurred a small loss of around CHF 75 million on this transaction, which it expects to recover within
approximately one year through the reduction in future interest expense. The repurchase of the tier 2
bonds does not affect UBS’s CET1 ratio, and the small loss from the transaction has an insignificant
effect on it.
3.4.4 Changes to Group Executive Board and Corporate Center
On 5 December 2013, UBS announced a number of changes to its senior leadership team and the
Corporate Center structure.
John Fraser, who has been Chairman and CEO Global Asset Management since 2001, has decided to
retire from his CEO role and as a member of UBS AG’s Group Executive Board, effective 31 December
2013. He will retain his position as Chairman of Global Asset Management.
Ulrich Koerner, currently Group Chief Operating Officer (COO), will become CEO Global Asset
Management, effective 1 January 2014 in addition to his role as CEO Europe Middle East and Africa.
Tom Naratil, currently Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will also become Group Chief Operating
Officer, effective 1 January 2014. The COO function will include Group Technology, Group Operations,
75
Corporate Services and the firm's Industrialization Program. In addition, the Corporate Development
function will move to the CFO area.
In addition, also effective 1 January 2014, UBS is making several other changes to its Corporate Center
organisation. Group Human Resources, Communications & Branding and Group Regulatory Relations &
Strategic Initiatives (GRR&SI) will report directly to Sergio P. Ermotti, Group Chief Executive Officer.
In order to manage UBS's compliance, conduct and operational risks in a more integrated and effective
way, Compliance and Operational Risk Control will be merged to form a new function reporting to Philip
Lofts, Group Chief Risk Officer. The new function will continue to work closely with Legal, led by
General Counsel Markus Diethelm, given the complementary mandates of both organisations. In addition,
UBS's Group Security Services function will also move to the Group Chief Risk Officer area.
3.5 Trend Information
As stated in the outlook statement presented in UBS AG's third quarter 2013 report, including unaudited
consolidated financial statements and issued on 29 October 2013, at the start of the fourth quarter, the
fiscal debate in the US highlighted the fact that many of the underlying challenges related to structural
fiscal and economic issues remain. Consequently, for the fourth quarter of 2013, client confidence and
activity levels may continue to be impacted by the continued absence of sustained and credible
improvements to unresolved European sovereign debt and banking system issues and US fiscal and
monetary issues, and by the mixed outlook for global growth. This would once again make improvements
in prevailing market conditions unlikely, and would consequently generate headwinds for revenue
growth, net interest margins and net new money. Nevertheless, UBS expects that its wealth management
businesses will continue to attract net new money, reflecting new and existing clients’ steadfast trust in
the firm, and that the actions it has taken will ensure the firm’s long-term success and will deliver
sustainable returns for shareholders.
4. ADMINISTRATIVE, MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY BODIES OF THE ISSUER
UBS AG is subject to, and acts in compliance with, all relevant Swiss legal and regulatory requirements
regarding corporate governance. In addition, as a foreign company with shares listed on the New York
Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), UBS AG is in compliance with all relevant corporate governance standards
applicable to foreign listed companies.
UBS AG operates under a strict dual board structure, as mandated by Swiss banking law. This structure
establishes checks and balances and preserves the institutional independence of the Board of Directors
(“BoD”) from the day-to-day management of the firm, for which responsibility is delegated to the Group
Executive Board (“GEB”) under the leadership of the Group Chief Executive Officer (“Group CEO”).
The BoD decides on the strategy of the Group upon the recommendation of the Group CEO, and
supervises and monitors the business, whereas the GEB, headed by the Group CEO, has executive
management responsibility. The functions of Chairman of the BoD and Group CEO are assigned to two
different people, ensuring a separation of power. The supervision and control of the GEB remains with
the BoD. No member of one board may be a member of the other.
The Articles of Association and the Organisation Regulations of UBS AG with their annexes govern the
authorities and responsibilities of the two bodies.
4.1 Board of Directors
The BoD is the most senior body of UBS AG. The BoD consists of at least six and a maximum of twelve
members. All the members of the BoD are elected individually by the Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders (“AGM”) for a term of office of one year. The BoD's proposal for election must be such
that three quarters of the BoD members will be independent. Independence is determined in accordance
with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) circular 08/24, the NYSE rules and
76
the rules and regulations of other securities exchanges on which UBS AG shares are listed, if any,
applying the strictest standard. The Chairman is not required to be independent.
The BoD has ultimate responsibility for the success of the UBS Group and for delivering sustainable
shareholder value within a framework of prudent and effective controls. It decides on UBS Group's
strategic aims and the necessary financial and human resources upon recommendation of the Group CEO
and sets the UBS Group's values and standards to ensure that its obligations to its shareholders and others
are met.
The BoD meets as often as business requires, and at least six times a year.
4.1.1 Members of the Board of Directors
Members and
business addresses Title Term of office
Current principal positions outside
UBS AG
Axel A. Weber
UBS AG,
Bahnhofstrasse 45,
CH-8098 Zurich
Chairman 2014
Member of the board of the Institute of
International Finance the International
Monetary Conference, the European
Banking Group and the European
Financial Services Roundtable; member
of the Group of Thirty, Washington,
D.C.; research fellow at the Center for
Economic Policy Research, London,
and the Center for Financial Research,
Cologne; senior research fellow at the
Center for Financial Studies,
Frankfurt/Main; member of the
Monetary Economics and International
Economics Councils of the leading
association of German-speaking
economists, the Verein für
Sozialpolitik; member of the Advisory
Board of the German Market Economy
Foundation and of the Advisory Board
of the Department of Economics at the
University of Zurich; member of the
IMD Foundation, Lausanne and of the
International Advisory Panel of the
Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Michel Demaré
UBS AG,
Bahnhofstrasse 45,
CH-8098 Zurich
Independent
Vice
Chairman
2014
Chairman of the board of Syngenta, a
member of the IMD Supervisory Board,
Lausanne, and board member of
SwissHoldings, Berne.
David Sidwell
UBS AG,
Bahnhofstrasse 45,
CH-8098 Zurich
Senior
Independent
Director
2014
Director and Chairperson of the Risk
Policy and Capital Committee of
Fannie Mae, Washington D.C.; Senior
Advisor at Oliver Wyman, New York;
Chairman of the board of Village Care,
New York; Director of the National
Council on Aging, Washington D.C.
77
Reto Francioni
Deutsche Börse AG,
Mergenthalerallee 61,
D-65760 Eschborn
Member 2014
CEO of Deutsche Börse AG (holding
different mandates in boards of
subsidiaries within the Deutsche Börse
Group); professor at the University of
Basel. Member of the Shanghai
International Financial Advisory
Committee; member of the Advisory
Board of the Moscow International
Financial Center; member of the
Advisory Board of Instituto de
Empresa; member of the Board of
Trustees of the Goethe Business
School; member of the Strategic
Advisory Group of VHV Insurance;
Vice President of the Deutsche
Aktieninstitut
Rainer-Marc Frey
Office of Rainer-Marc
Frey, Seeweg 39, CH-
8807 Freienbach
Member 2014
Founder of Horizon21 AG; Chairman
of Horizon21 AG, its holding company
and related entities and subsidiaries;
member of the board of DKSH Group,
Zurich, and of the Frey Charitable
Foundation, Freienbach.
Ann F. Godbehere
UBS AG,
Bahnhofstrasse 45,
CH-8098 Zurich
Member 2014
Board member and Chairperson of the
Audit Committee of Prudential plc, Rio
Tinto plc, Rio Tinto Limited, Atrium
Underwriters Ltd., and Atrium
Underwriting Group Ltd., London.
Member of the board of Arden
Holdings Ltd., Bermuda, and British
American Tobacco plc.
Axel P. Lehmann
Zurich Insurance
Group, Mythenquai 2,
CH-8002 Zurich
Member 2014
Member of the Group Executive
Committee, Group Chief Risk Officer
and Regional Chairman Europe of
Zurich Insurance Group, Zurich;
Chairman of the board of Farmers
Group, Inc.; Chairman of the board of
the Institute of Insurance Economics at
the University of St. Gallen; member of
the Chief Risk Officer Forum; member
of the board of Economiesuisse.
Helmut Panke
BMW AG, Petuelring
130, D-80788 Munich
Member 2014
Member of the board and Chairperson
of the Regulatory and Public Policy
Committee of Microsoft Corporation;
member of the board and Chairperson
of the Safety & Risk Committee of
Singapore Airlines Ltd.; member of the
Supervisory Board of Bayer AG.
William G. Parrett Member 2014 Member of the board and Chairperson
of the Audit Committee of the Eastman
78
UBS AG,
Bahnhofstrasse 45,
CH-8098 Zurich
Kodak Company, the Blackstone Group
LP and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.;
Past Chairman of the board of the
United States Council for International
Business and of United Way
Worldwide; member of the Carnegie
Hall Board of Trustees.
Isabelle Romy
Froriep Renggli,
Bellerivestrasse 201,
CH-8034 Zurich
Member 2014
Partner at Froriep Renggli, Zurich;
associate professor at the University of
Fribourg and at the Federal Institute of
Technology, Lausanne; member and
Vice Chairman of the Sanction
Commission of the SIX Swiss
Exchange.
Beatrice Weder di
Mauro
Johannes Gutenberg-
University Mainz,
Jakob Welder-Weg 4,
D-55099 Mainz
Member 2014
Professor at the Johannes Gutenberg
University, Mainz; research fellow at
the Center for Economic Policy
Research, London; member of the
board of Roche Holding Ltd., Basel;
member of the Supervisory Board of
ThyssenKrupp AG, Essen, and of
Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart.
Joseph Yam
UBS AG,
Bahnhofstrasse 45,
CH-8098 Zurich
Member 2014
Executive Vice President of the China
Society for Finance and Banking;
member of the international advisory
councils of a number of government
and academic institutions. Member of
the board of Johnson Electric Holdings
Limited and of UnionPay International
Co., Ltd.
4.1.2 Organisational principles and structure
Following each Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, the BoD meets to appoint its Chairman, Vice
Chairmen, Senior Independent Director, the BoD committee members and their respective Chairpersons.
At the same meeting, the BoD appoints a Company Secretary, who acts as secretary to the BoD and its
committees.
The BoD committees comprise the Audit Committee, the Corporate Responsibility Committee, the
Governance and Nominating Committee, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee and the
Risk Committee. The BoD has also established a Special Committee in connection with the unauthorised
trading incident announced in September 2011, as well as, in 2012, an ad-hoc committee on strategy to
discuss details of the acceleration of UBS's strategy with the senior management.
4.1.3 Audit Committee
The Audit committee (“AC”) comprises five BoD members, with all members having been determined by
the BoD to be fully independent and financially literate.
79
The AC itself does not perform audits, but monitors the work of the external auditors who in turn are
responsible for auditing UBS AG's and the Group's annual financial statements and for reviewing the
quarterly financial statements.
The function of the AC is to serve as an independent and objective body with oversight of: (i) the Group's
accounting policies, financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, (ii) the quality, adequacy
and scope of external audit, (iii) the Group's compliance with financial reporting requirements, (iv) senior
management's approach to internal controls with respect to the production and integrity of the financial
statements and disclosure of the financial performance, and (v) the performance of UBS's Group Internal
Audit in conjunction with the Chairman of the BoD and the Risk Committee.
The AC reviews the annual and quarterly financial statements of UBS AG and the Group, as proposed by
management, with the external auditors and Group Internal Audit in order to recommend their approval
(including any adjustments the AC considers appropriate) to the BoD.
Periodically, and at least annually, the AC assesses the qualifications, expertise, effectiveness,
independence and performance of the external auditors and their lead audit partner, in order to support the
BoD in reaching a decision in relation to the appointment or dismissal of the external auditors and the
rotation of the lead audit partner. The BoD then submits these proposals for approval at the Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders.
The members of the AC are William G. Parrett (Chairperson), Michel Demaré, Ann F. Godbehere,
Isabelle Romy and Beatrice Weder di Mauro.
4.2 Group Executive Board
Under the leadership of the Group CEO, the GEB has executive management responsibility for the UBS
Group and its business. It assumes overall responsibility for the development of the UBS Group and
business division strategies and the implementation of approved strategies. All GEB members (with the
exception of the Group CEO) are proposed by the Group CEO. The appointments are made by the BoD.
The business address of the members of the GEB is UBS AG, Bahnhofstrasse 45, CH-8098 Zurich.
4.2.1 Members of the Group Executive Board
Sergio P. Ermotti Group Chief Executive Officer
Markus U. Diethelm Group General Counsel
John A. Fraser Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Global Asset Management
Lukas Gähwiler Chief Executive Officer UBS Switzerland, Chief Executive Officer
Retail & Corporate
Ulrich Körner Group Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer UBS Group
EMEA
Philip J. Lofts Group Chief Risk Officer
Robert J. McCann Chief Executive Officer Wealth Management Americas, Chief
Executive Officer UBS Group Americas
Tom Naratil Group Chief Financial Officer
Andrea Orcel Chief Executive Officer Investment Bank
80
Chi-Won Yoon Chief Executive Officer UBS Group Asia Pacific
Jürg Zeltner Chief Executive Officer Wealth Management
No member of the GEB has any significant business interests outside UBS AG.
As mentioned in section 3.4.4 above, on 5 December 2013 UBS announced that John Fraser, who has
been Chairman and CEO Global Asset Management since 2001, has decided to retire from his CEO role
and as a member of UBS AG's Group Executive Board, effective 31 December 2013. He will retain his
position as Chairman of Global Asset Management. Ulrich Koerner, currently Group Chief Operating
Officer, will become CEO Global Asset Management, effective 1 January 2014 in addition to his role as
CEO Europe Middle East and Africa. Tom Naratil, currently Group Chief Financial Officer, will also
become Group Chief Operating Officer, effective 1 January 2014.
4.3 Potential Conflicts of Interest
Members of the BoD and GEB may act as directors or executive officers of other companies (for current
principal positions outside UBS AG, if any, of BoD members, please see section 4.1.1 above) and may
have economic or other private interests that differ from those of UBS AG. Potential conflicts of interest
may arise from these positions or interests. UBS is confident that its internal corporate governance
practices and its compliance with relevant legal and regulatory provisions reasonably ensure that any
conflicts of interest of the type described above are appropriately managed, including through disclosure
when appropriate.
5. AUDITORS
Based on section 31 of the Articles of Association, UBS AG shareholders elect the auditors for a term of
office of one year. At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of 28 April 2011, 3 May 2012 and 2
May 2013, Ernst & Young Ltd., Aeschengraben 9, CH-4002 Basel (“Ernst & Young”) were elected as
auditors for the financial statements of UBS AG and the consolidated financial statements of the UBS
Group for a one-year term, respectively.
Ernst & Young is a member of the Swiss Institute of Certified Accountants and Tax Consultants based in
Zurich, Switzerland.
6. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS OF THE ISSUER
Under the Federal Act on Stock Exchanges and Securities Trading of 24 March 1995, as amended (the
“Swiss Stock Exchange Act”), anyone holding shares in a company listed in Switzerland, or derivative
rights related to shares of such a company, must notify the company and the SIX Swiss Exchange if the
holding attains, falls below or exceeds one of the following thresholds: 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 33 1/3, 50 or
66 2/3% of the voting rights, whether they are exercisable or not.
The following are the most recent notifications of holdings in UBS AG's share capital filed in accordance
with the Swiss Stock Exchange Act, based on UBS AG's registered share capital at the time of the
disclosure:
81
18 September 2013: Government of Singapore Investment Corp. disclosed a change to its
corporate name to GIC Private Limited, and a holding of 6.40%;
30 September 2011: Norges Bank (the Central Bank of Norway), 3.04%;
17 December 2009: BlackRock Inc., New York, USA, 3.45%.
Voting rights may be exercised without any restrictions by shareholders entered into the share register, if
they expressly render a declaration of beneficial ownership according to the provisions of the Articles of
Association. Special provisions exist for the registration of fiduciaries and nominees. Fiduciaries and
nominees are entered in the share register with voting rights up to a total of 5% of all shares issued, if
they agree to disclose upon UBS AG's request beneficial owners holding 0.3% or more of all UBS AG
shares. An exception to the 5% voting limit rule exists for securities clearing organisations such as The
Depository Trust Company in New York.
As of 30 September 2013, the following shareholders (acting in their own name or in their capacity as
nominees for other investors or beneficial owners) were registered in the share register with 3% or more
of the total share capital of UBS AG: Chase Nominees Ltd., London (11.93%); GIC Private Limited,
Singapore (6.39%); the US securities clearing organisation DTC (Cede & Co.) New York, “The
Depository Trust Company” (5.88%) and Nortrust Nominees Ltd., London (3.85%).
UBS holds UBS AG shares primarily to hedge employee share and option participation plans. A smaller
number is held by the Investment Bank for hedging related derivatives and for market-making in UBS
AG shares. As of 30 September 2013, UBS held a stake of UBS AG's shares, which corresponded to less
than 3.00% of UBS AG's total share capital. On 12 October 2013, UBS AG notified in accordance with
the Swiss Stock Exchange Act a reduction in its disposal positions to 274,501,778 (from 422,236,769 on
31 December 2012) voting rights, corresponding to 7.16% of the total voting rights of UBS AG, due to
the cancellation of the warrants that had been granted to the Swiss National Bank ("SNB") in connection
with the transfer of certain illiquid securities and other positions to a fund owned and controlled by the
SNB.
Further details on the distribution of UBS AG's shares, also by region and shareholders' type, and on the
number of shares registered, not registered and carrying voting rights as of 31 December 2012 can be
found in the Annual Report 2012, on pages 225-227 (inclusive) of the English version.
7. FINANCIAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ISSUER’S ASSETS AND
LIABILITIES, FINANCIAL POSITION AND PROFITS AND LOSSES
7.1 Historical Annual Financial Information
A description of UBS AG's and UBS Group's assets and liabilities, financial position and profits and
losses for financial year 2011 is available in the Financial information section of the annual report of UBS
AG as of 31 December 2011 (“Annual Report 2011”), and for financial year 2012 is available in the
Financial information section of the Annual Report 2012. The Issuer's financial year is the calendar year.
With respect to the financial year 2011, reference is made to the following parts of the Annual Report
2011 (within the Financial information section, English version):
(i) the Consolidated Financial Statements of UBS Group, in particular to the Income Statement on
page 289, the Balance Sheet on page 291, the Statement of Cash Flows on pages 295-296
(inclusive) and the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 297-410 (inclusive);
and
(ii) the Financial Statements of UBS AG (Parent Bank), in particular to the Income Statement on
page 414, the Balance Sheet on page 415, the Statement of Appropriation of Retained Earnings
82
on page 416, the Notes to the Parent Bank Financial Statements on pages 417-434 (inclusive) and
the Parent Bank Review on pages 411-413 (inclusive); and
(iii) the section entitled “Introduction and accounting principles” on page 282.
With respect to the financial year 2012, reference is made to the following parts of the Annual Report
2012 (within the Financial information section, English version):
(i) the Consolidated Financial Statements of UBS Group, in particular to the Income Statement on
page 323, the Balance Sheet on page 325, the Statement of Cash Flows on pages 329-330
(inclusive) and the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 331-455 (inclusive);
and
(ii) the Financial Statements of UBS AG (Parent Bank), in particular to the Income Statement on
page 460, the Balance Sheet on page 461, the Statement of Appropriation of Retained Earnings
on page 462, the Notes to the Parent Bank Financial Statements on pages 463-482 (inclusive)
and the Parent Bank Review on pages 457-459 (inclusive); and
(iii) the section entitled “Introduction and accounting principles” on page 316.
The annual financial reports form an essential part of UBS's reporting. They include the audited
consolidated financial statements of UBS Group, prepared in accordance with International Financial
Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and the audited financial
statements of UBS AG (Parent Bank), prepared in order to meet Swiss regulatory requirements and in
compliance with Swiss Federal Banking Law. The Financial information section of the annual reports
also includes certain additional disclosures required under US Securities and Exchange Commission
regulations. The annual reports also include discussions and analysis of the financial and business results
of UBS, its business divisions and the Corporate Center.
7.2 Auditing of Historical Annual Financial Information
The consolidated financial statements of UBS Group and the financial statements of UBS AG (Parent
Bank) for financial years 2011 and 2012 were audited by Ernst & Young. The reports of the auditors on
the consolidated financial statements can be found on pages 287-288 (inclusive) of the Annual Report
2011 (Financial information section, English version) and on pages 321-322 (inclusive) of the Annual
Report 2012 (Financial information section, English version). The reports of the auditors on the financial
statements of UBS AG (Parent Bank) can be found on pages 435-436 (inclusive) of the Annual Report
2011 (Financial information section, English version) and on pages 483-484 (inclusive) of the Annual
Report 2012 (Financial information section, English version).
There are no qualifications in the auditors' reports on the audited financial statements for the years ended
on 31 December 2011 and 31 December 2012, which are incorporated by reference into this document.
7.3 Interim Financial Information
Reference is also made to UBS AG's first, second and third quarter 2013 reports, which contain
information on the financial condition and the results of operation of the UBS Group as of and for the
quarter ended on 31 March 2013, 30 June 2013 and 30 September 2013, respectively. The interim
financial statements are not audited.
7.4 Incorporation by Reference
UBS AG's Annual Report 2011, Annual Report 2012, the first quarter 2013 report, the second quarter
2013 report and the third quarter 2013 report are fully incorporated in, and form an integral part of, this
document.
83
7.5 Litigation, Regulatory and Similar Matters5
The Group operates in a legal and regulatory environment that exposes it to significant litigation and
similar risks arising from disputes and regulatory proceedings. As a result, UBS (which for purposes of
this section may refer to UBS AG and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, as applicable) is involved in
various disputes and legal proceedings, including litigation, arbitration, and regulatory and criminal
investigations.
Such matters are subject to many uncertainties and the outcome is often difficult to predict, particularly in
the earlier stages of a case. There are also situations where the Group may enter into a settlement
agreement. This may occur in order to avoid the expense, management distraction or reputational
implications of continuing to contest liability, even for those matters for which the Group believes it
should be exonerated. The uncertainties inherent in all such matters affect the amount and timing of any
potential outflows for both matters with respect to which provisions have been established and other
contingent liabilities. The Group makes provisions for such matters brought against it when, in the
opinion of management after seeking legal advice, it is more likely than not that the Group has a present
legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow of resources will
be required, and the amount can be reliably estimated. If any of those conditions is not met, such matters
result in contingent liabilities. Consequently, a matter arising from a single set of circumstances results in
either a provision or a contingent liability, but not both, except in limited cases (for example, where two
separate matters arise from the same set of circumstances).
Specific litigation, regulatory and other matters are described below, including all such matters that
management considers to be material and others that management believes to be of significance due to
potential financial, reputational and other effects. The amount of damages claimed, the size of a
transaction or other information is provided where available and appropriate in order to assist users in
considering the magnitude of potential exposures.
In the case of certain matters below, UBS states that it has established a provision, and for the other
matters it makes no such statement. When UBS makes this statement and it expects disclosure of the
amount of a provision to prejudice seriously its position with other parties in the matter, because it would
reveal what UBS believes to be the probable and reliably estimable outflow, UBS does not disclose that
amount. In some cases UBS is subject to confidentiality obligations that preclude such disclosure. With
respect to the matters for which UBS does not state whether it has established a provision, either (a) it has
not established a provision, in which case the matter is treated as a contingent liability under the
applicable accounting standard or (b) it has established a provision but expects disclosure of that fact to
prejudice seriously its position with other parties in the matter because it would reveal the fact that UBS
believes an outflow of resources to be probable and reliably estimable.
With respect to certain litigation, regulatory and similar matters as to which UBS has established
provisions, UBS is able to estimate the expected timing of outflows. However, the aggregate amount of
the expected outflows for those matters for which it is able to estimate expected timing is immaterial
relative to its current and expected levels of liquidity over the relevant time periods.
The aggregate amount provisioned for litigation, regulatory and similar matters as a class is disclosed in
Note 17a to the unaudited consolidated financial statements of UBS's third quarter 2013 report. It is not
practicable to provide an aggregate estimate of liability for UBS’s litigation, regulatory and similar
matters as a class of contingent liabilities. Doing so would require UBS to provide speculative legal
assessments as to claims and proceedings that involve unique fact patterns or novel legal theories, which
have not yet been initiated or are at early stages of adjudication, or as to which alleged damages have not
been quantified by the claimants. Although UBS therefore cannot provide a numerical estimate of the
future losses that could arise from the class of litigation, regulatory and similar matters, it can confirm
5 Text and tables in this section are extracted from the unaudited consolidated financial statements of UBS's third quarter 2013 report.
84
that it believes that the aggregate amount of possible future losses from this class that are more than
remote substantially exceeds the level of current provisions.
Provisions for litigation, regulatory and similar matters by segment1
CHF million
Wealth Managem
ent
Wealth
Management
Americas
Investmen
t Bank
Global
Asset Manag
ement
Retail
& Corpor
ate
CC – Core
Functions
CC –
Non-core
and Legacy
Portfolio UBS
Balance as of 31
December 2012 130 170 28 7 29 338 732 1,432
Balance as of 31 March
2013 114 172 35 7 26 370 1,074 1,797
Balance as of 30 June
2013 117 173 19 2 34 376 1,465 2,185
Increase in provisions
recognised in the income
statement
67 15 4 0 1 162 355 603
Release of provisions
recognised in the income
statement
0 (8) 0 0 0 0 (4) (12)
Provisions used in conformity with
designated purpose
(7) (8) (2) 0 (2) 0 (925) (943)
Reclassifications 0 0 (7) 0 0 0 0 (7)
Foreign currency
translation / unwind of
discount
(1) (8) (1) 0 0 (6) (73) (90)
Balance as of 30
September 2013 176 162 13 2 33 531 818 1,736
1 Provisions, if any, for the matters described in (i) items 1 and 6 of this section are recorded in Wealth Management, (ii) items 3 and
9 of this section are recorded in Wealth Management Americas, (iii) item 13 of this section is recorded in the Investment Bank, (iv)
items 5, 10 and 12 of this section are recorded in Corporate Center – Core Functions and (v) items 2, 4 and 8 of this section are recorded in Corporate Center – Non-core and Legacy Portfolio. Provisions for the matter described in item 7 of this section are
allocated between the Investment Bank and Corporate Center – Non-core and Legacy Portfolio, and provisions for the matters
described in item 11 of this section are allocated between Wealth Management and Retail & Corporate.
1. Inquiries regarding cross-border wealth management businesses
Following the disclosure and the settlement of the US cross-border matter, tax and regulatory authorities
in a number of countries have made inquiries and served requests for information located in their
respective jurisdictions relating to the cross-border wealth management services provided by UBS and
other financial institutions. As a result of investigations in France, in May and June 2013, respectively,
UBS (France) S.A. and UBS AG have been put under formal examination ("mise en examen") for
complicity in having illicitly solicited clients on French territory, and were declared witness with legal
assistance ("témoin assisté") regarding the laundering of the proceeds of tax fraud and of banking and
financial solicitation by unauthorised persons. In June 2013, the French banking supervisory authority's
disciplinary commission reprimanded UBS (France) S.A. for having had insufficiencies in its control and
compliance framework around its cross-border activities and "know your customer" obligations. It
imposed a penalty of EUR 10 million, and a provision in that amount is reflected on UBS’s balance sheet
at 30 September 2013. In Germany, several authorities have been conducting investigations against UBS
Deutschland AG, UBS AG, and against certain employees of UBS AG concerning certain matters relating
to the cross-border business. UBS is cooperating with these authorities within the limits of financial
85
privacy obligations under Swiss and other applicable laws. Settlement discussions have commenced with
respect to one of those investigations.
2. Matters related to the financial crisis
UBS has responded to a number of governmental inquiries and investigations and is involved in a number
of litigations, arbitrations and disputes related to the financial crisis of 2007 to 2009 and in particular
mortgage-related securities and other structured transactions and derivatives. In August 2013 UBS
entered into a settlement with the SEC relating to UBS’s structuring and underwriting of one CDO, ACA
2007-26, in 2007. Pursuant to that settlement, in which the SEC alleged violations of the US securities
laws arising out of UBS’s retention of approximately USD 23.6 million in upfront premium payments,
UBS agreed to make a payment of approximately USD 49.8 million.
UBS is a defendant in several lawsuits filed by institutional purchasers of CDOs structured by UBS in
which plaintiffs allege, under various legal theories, that UBS misrepresented the quality of the collateral
underlying the CDOs. Plaintiffs in these suits collectively seek to recover several hundred million dollars
in claimed losses. In April 2013, the trial court dismissed with prejudice one of these suits in which
plaintiffs claimed losses of at least USD 331 million. In July 2013 the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal
and also moved the trial court for reconsideration of the dismissal.
UBS's balance sheet at 30 September 2013 reflected a provision with respect to matters described in this
item 2 in an amount that UBS believes to be appropriate under the applicable accounting standard. As in
the case of other matters for which UBS has established provisions, the future outflow of resources in
respect of this matter cannot be determined with certainty based on currently available information, and
accordingly may ultimately prove to be substantially greater (or may be less) than the provision that UBS
has recognised.
3. Lehman principal protection notes
From March 2007 through September 2008, UBS Financial Services Inc. (“UBSFS”) sold approximately
USD 1 billion face amount of structured notes issued by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (“Lehman”), a
majority of which were referred to as “principal protection notes”, reflecting the fact that while the notes’
return was in some manner linked to market indices or other measures, some or all of the investor’s
principal was an unconditional obligation of Lehman as issuer of the notes. Based on its role as an
underwriter of Lehman structured notes, UBSFS has been named as a defendant in a putative class action
asserting violations of disclosure provisions of the federal securities laws. In August 2013, UBSFS agreed
to a proposed USD 120 million settlement of the case, which has since received preliminary approval
from the Court. Previously, certain of the other underwriter defendants and the former officers and
directors of Lehman reached separate settlements regarding the same case. UBSFS has also been named
in numerous individual civil suits and customer arbitrations, which proceedings are at various stages. The
individual customer claims, some of which have resulted in awards payable by UBSFS, relate primarily to
whether UBSFS adequately disclosed the risks of these notes to its customers.
UBS’s balance sheet at 30 September 2013 reflected a provision with respect to matters described in this
item 3 in an amount that UBS believes to be appropriate under the applicable accounting standard. As in
the case of other matters for which UBS has established provisions, the future outflow of resources in
respect of this matter cannot be determined with certainty based on currently available information, and
accordingly may ultimately prove to be substantially greater (or may be less) than the provision that UBS
has recognised.
4. Claims related to sales of residential mortgage-backed securities and mortgages
6 The abbreviation stems from the name of the issuer of the CDO.
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From 2002 through 2007, prior to the crisis in the US residential loan market, UBS was a substantial
issuer and underwriter of US residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) and was a purchaser and
seller of US residential mortgages. A subsidiary of UBS, UBS Real Estate Securities Inc. (“UBS RESI”),
acquired pools of residential mortgage loans from originators and (through an affiliate) deposited them
into securitisation trusts. In this manner, from 2004 through 2007, UBS RESI sponsored approximately
USD 80 billion in RMBS, based on the original principal balances of the securities issued.
UBS RESI also sold pools of loans acquired from originators to third-party purchasers. These whole loan
sales during the period 2004 through 2007 totalled approximately USD 19 billion in original principal
balance.
UBS was not a significant originator of US residential loans. A subsidiary of UBS originated
approximately USD 1.5 billion in US residential mortgage loans during the period in which it was active
from 2006 to 2008, and securitised less than half of these loans.
Securities Lawsuits Concerning Disclosures in RMBS Offering Documents: UBS has been named as a
defendant relating to its role as underwriter and issuer of RMBS in a large number of lawsuits related to
approximately USD 37 billion in original face amount of RMBS underwritten or issued by UBS. Some of
the lawsuits are in their early stages and have not advanced beyond the motion to dismiss phase; others
are in varying stages of discovery. Of the USD 37 billion in original face amount of RMBS at issue in
these cases, approximately USD 3 billion was issued in offerings in which a UBS subsidiary transferred
underlying loans (the majority of which were purchased from third-party originators) into a securitisation
trust and made representations and warranties about those loans (“UBS-sponsored RMBS”). The
remaining USD 34 billion of RMBS to which these cases relate was issued by third parties in
securitisations in which UBS acted as underwriter (“third-party RMBS”).
In connection with certain of these lawsuits, UBS has indemnification rights against surviving third-party
issuers or originators for losses or liabilities incurred by UBS, but UBS cannot predict the extent to which
it will succeed in enforcing those rights. A settlement announced in April 2013 by a third-party issuer
could, upon court approval and finalisation, reduce the original face amount of RMBS at issue in these
cases from USD 37 billion to USD 13 billion, and the original face amount of RMBS at issue in cases
involving third-party issuers from USD 34 billion to USD 10 billion. UBS cannot make any assurance
that this third-party issuer settlement, to which UBS is not required or expected to make a financial
contribution, will receive court approval and be finalised.
In July 2013, UBS entered into a settlement with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) on
behalf of the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) which resolved all pending litigation brought by the FHFA and
certain other unasserted claims. The settlement did not resolve the two pending lawsuits described below
under “Lawsuits related to contractual representations and warranties concerning mortgages and RMBS.”
In 2012 a federal court in New Jersey dismissed with prejudice on statute of limitations grounds a
putative class action lawsuit that asserted violations of the federal securities laws against various UBS
entities, among others, in connection with USD 2.6 billion in original face amount of UBS-sponsored
RMBS. In September 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the district court’s
dismissal with prejudice, and in October 2013, plaintiffs filed a petition for en banc review of the Court of
Appeals’ decision. The petition remains pending.
Loan repurchase demands related to sales of mortgages and RMBS: When UBS acted as an RMBS
sponsor or mortgage seller, it generally made certain representations relating to the characteristics of the
underlying loans. In the event of a material breach of these representations, UBS was in certain
circumstances contractually obligated to repurchase the loans to which they related or to indemnify
certain parties against losses. UBS has received demands to repurchase US residential mortgage loans as
to which UBS made certain representations at the time the loans were transferred to the securitisation
trust. UBS has been notified by certain institutional purchasers and insurers of mortgage loans and RMBS
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of their contention that possible breaches of representations may entitle the purchasers to require that
UBS repurchase the loans or to other relief. The table below summarises repurchase demands received by
UBS and UBS’s repurchase activity from 2006 through 22 October 2013, and includes purported
demands received by UBS in September 2013 seeking repurchase of approximately 1,900 loans with an
original principal balance of approximately USD 893 million. Approximately half of the 1,900 loans were
originated by surviving third-party loan originators, and thus UBS is entitled to indemnity for those loans,
as described below. In the table, repurchase demands characterised as Demands resolved in litigation and
Demands rescinded by counterparty are considered to be finally resolved. Repurchase demands in all
other categories are not finally resolved.
Loan repurchase demands by year received – original principal balance of loans1
USD million 2006-2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
through
22 October
2013 Total
Resolved demands
Actual or agreed loan repurchases / make
whole payments by UBS 12 1
13
Demands rescinded by counterparty 110 104 19 301 237 771
Demands resolved in litigation 1 21 21
Demands expected to be resolved by third
parties
Demands resolved or expected to be resolved through enforcement of
indemnification rights against third-party
originators 77 2 45 128 90 342
Demands in dispute
Demands in litigation 346 732 1,041 2,118
Demands in review by UBS 2 2 378 382
Demands rebutted by UBS but not yet
rescinded by counterparty 1 2 4 17 24
Total 123 205 368 1,084 1,425 468 3,673
¹ Loans submitted by multiple counterparties are counted only once.
Payments that UBS has made or agreed to make to date to resolve repurchase demands equate to
approximately 62% of the original principal balance of the related loans. Most of the payments that UBS
has made or agreed to make to date have related to so-called “Option ARM” loans; severity rates may
vary for other types of loans or for Option ARMs with different characteristics. Actual losses upon
repurchase will reflect the estimated value of the loans in question at the time of repurchase as well as, in
some cases, partial repayment by the borrowers or advances by servicers prior to repurchase. It is not
possible to predict future losses upon repurchase for reasons including timing and market uncertainties.
In most instances in which UBS would be required to repurchase loans due to misrepresentations, UBS
would be able to assert demands against third-party loan originators who provided representations when
selling the related loans to UBS. However, many of these third parties are insolvent or no longer exist.
UBS estimates that, of the total original principal balance of loans sold or securitised by UBS from 2004
through 2007, less than 50% was purchased from surviving third-party originators. In connection with
approximately 60% of the loans (by original principal balance) for which UBS has made payment or
agreed to make payment in response to demands received in 2010, UBS has asserted indemnity or
repurchase demands against originators. Since 2011, UBS has advised certain surviving originators of
repurchase demands made against UBS for which UBS would be entitled to indemnity, and has asserted
that such demands should be resolved directly by the originator and the party making the demand.
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UBS cannot reliably estimate the level of future repurchase demands, and does not know whether its
rebuttals of such demands will be a good predictor of future rates of rebuttal. UBS also cannot reliably
estimate the timing of any such demands.
Lawsuits related to contractual representations and warranties concerning mortgages and RMBS: In
2012, certain RMBS trusts filed an action in the Southern District of New York (“Trustee Suit”) seeking
to enforce UBS RESI’s obligation to repurchase loans with an original principal balance of approximately
USD 2 billion for which Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. (“Assured Guaranty”), a financial
guarantee insurance company, had previously demanded repurchase. Related litigation brought by
Assured Guaranty was resolved in May 2013. In August 2013, the district court denied UBS’s motion to
dismiss the Trustee Suit. With respect to the loans subject to the Trustee Suit that were originated by
institutions still in existence, UBS intends to enforce its indemnity rights against those institutions. At this
time, UBS does not expect that it will be required to make payment for the majority of loan repurchase
demands at issue in the Trustee Suit for at least the following reasons: (1) UBS reviewed the origination
file and / or servicing records for the loan and concluded that the allegations of breach of representations
and warranties are unfounded, or (2) a surviving originator is contractually liable for any breaches of
representations and warranties with respect to loans that it originated. UBS has indemnification rights in
connection with approximately half of the USD 2 billion in original principal balance of loans at issue in
this suit (reflected in the “Demands in litigation” category in the table above).
In 2012, the FHFA, on behalf of Freddie Mac, filed a notice and summons in New York Supreme Court
initiating suit against UBS RESI for breach of contract and declaratory relief arising from alleged
breaches of representations and warranties in connection with certain mortgage loans and UBS RESI’s
alleged failure to repurchase such mortgage loans. The complaint for this suit was filed in September
2012. The lawsuit seeks, among other relief, specific performance of UBS RESI’s alleged loan repurchase
obligations for at least USD 94 million in original principal balance of loans for which Freddie Mac had
previously demanded repurchase; no damages are specified. In June 2013 the Court dismissed the
complaint for lack of standing, on the basis that only the RMBS trustee could assert the claims in the
complaint, and the complaint was unclear as to whether the trustee was the plaintiff and had proper
authority to bring suit. The trustee filed an amended complaint in June 2013, which UBS moved to
dismiss in July 2013. The motion remains pending.
UBS also has tolling agreements with certain institutional purchasers of RMBS concerning their potential
claims related to substantial purchases of UBS-sponsored or third-party RMBS.
As reflected in the table below, UBS's balance sheet at 30 September 2013 reflected a provision of USD
803 million with respect to matters described in this item 4. As in the case of other matters for which UBS
has established provisions, the future outflow of resources in respect of this matter cannot be determined
with certainty based on currently available information, and accordingly may ultimately prove to be
substantially greater (or may be less) than the provision that UBS has recognised.
Provision for claims related to sales of residential mortgage-backed securities and mortgages
USD million
Balance as of 31 December 2012 658
Balance as of 31 March 2013 962
Balance as of 31 June 2013 1,401
Increase in provision recognised in the income statement 387
Release of provision recognised in the income statement 0
Provision used in conformity with designated purpose (984) 1
89
Balance as of 30 September 2013 803
¹ Primarily reflects usage of the provision in connection with the cash payment under the settlement with FHFA referred to above.
5. Claims related to UBS disclosure
A putative consolidated class action has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York against UBS, a number of current and former directors and senior officers and
certain banks that underwrote UBS’s May 2008 Rights Offering (including UBS Securities LLC) alleging
violation of the US securities laws in connection with UBS’s disclosures relating to UBS’s positions and
losses in mortgage-related securities, UBS’s positions and losses in auction rate securities, and UBS’s US
cross-border business. In 2011, the court dismissed all claims based on purchases or sales of UBS
ordinary shares made outside the US, and, in 2012, the court dismissed with prejudice the remaining
claims based on purchases or sales of UBS ordinary shares made in the US for failure to state a claim.
Plaintiffs have appealed the court's decision. UBS, a number of senior officers and employees and various
UBS committees have also been sued in a putative consolidated class action for breach of fiduciary duties
brought on behalf of current and former participants in two UBS Employee Retirement Income Security
Act (“ERISA”) retirement plans in which there were purchases of UBS stock. In 2011, the court
dismissed the ERISA complaint. In 2012, the court denied plaintiffs’ motion for leave to file an amended
complaint. On appeal, the Second Circuit upheld the dismissal of all counts relating to one of the
retirement plans. With respect to the second retirement plan, the Court upheld the dismissal of some of
the counts, and vacated and remanded for further proceedings with regard to the counts alleging that
defendants had violated their fiduciary duty to prudently manage the plan’s investment options, as well as
the claims derivative of that duty.
In 2012, a consolidated complaint was filed in a putative securities fraud class action pending in federal
court in Manhattan against UBS AG and certain of its current and former officers relating to the
unauthorised trading incident that occurred in the Investment Bank and was announced in September
2011. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of parties who purchased publicly traded UBS securities on any US
exchange, or where title passed within the US, during the period 17 November 2009 through 15
September 2011. UBS’s motion to dismiss the complaint is pending.
7. Madoff
In relation to the Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (“BMIS”) investment fraud, UBS AG,
UBS (Luxembourg) SA and certain other UBS subsidiaries have been subject to inquiries by a number of
regulators, including the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) and the Luxembourg
Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (“CSSF”). Those inquiries concerned two third-party
funds established under Luxembourg law, substantially all assets of which were with BMIS, as well as
certain funds established in offshore jurisdictions with either direct or indirect exposure to BMIS. These
funds now face severe losses, and the Luxembourg funds are in liquidation. The last reported net asset
value of the two Luxembourg funds before revelation of the Madoff scheme was approximately USD 1.7
billion in the aggregate, although that figure likely includes fictitious profit reported by BMIS. The
documentation establishing both funds identifies UBS entities in various roles including custodian,
administrator, manager, distributor and promoter, and indicates that UBS employees serve as board
members. UBS (Luxembourg) SA and certain other UBS subsidiaries are responding to inquiries by
Luxembourg investigating authorities, without however being named as parties in those investigations. In
2009 and 2010, the liquidators of the two Luxembourg funds filed claims on behalf of the funds against
UBS entities, non-UBS entities and certain individuals including current and former UBS employees. The
amounts claimed are approximately EUR 890 million and EUR 305 million, respectively. The liquidators
have filed supplementary claims for amounts that the funds may possibly be held liable to pay the BMIS
Trustee. These amounts claimed by the liquidator are approximately EUR 564 million and EUR 370
million, respectively. In addition, a large number of alleged beneficiaries have filed claims against UBS
entities (and non-UBS entities) for purported losses relating to the Madoff scheme. The majority of these
cases are pending in Luxembourg, where appeals have been filed by the claimants against the 2010
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decisions of the court in which the claims in a number of test cases were held to be inadmissible. In the
US, the BMIS Trustee has filed claims against UBS entities, among others, in relation to the two
Luxembourg funds and one of the offshore funds. A claim was filed in 2010 against 23 defendants
including UBS entities, the Luxembourg and offshore funds concerned and various individuals, including
current and former UBS employees. The total amount claimed against all defendants in this action was
not less than USD 2 billion. A second claim was filed in 2010 against 16 defendants including UBS
entities and the Luxembourg fund concerned. The total amount claimed against all defendants was not
less than USD 555 million. Following a motion by UBS, in 2011 the District Court dismissed all of the
BMIS Trustee’s claims other than claims for recovery of fraudulent conveyances and preference
payments that were allegedly transferred to UBS on the ground that the BMIS Trustee lacks standing to
bring such claims. In June 2013, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the BMIS Trustee’s appeal
against that ruling and upheld the District Court’s decision. The BMIS Trustee has sought leave to appeal
to the US Supreme Court. In Germany, certain clients of UBS are exposed to Madoff-managed positions
through third-party funds and funds administered by UBS entities in Germany. A small number of claims
have been filed with respect to such funds.
7. Transactions with Italian public sector entities
A number of transactions that UBS Limited and UBS AG respectively entered into with public sector
entity counterparties in Italy have been called into question or become the subject of legal proceedings
and claims for damages and other awards. In Milan, in 2012, civil claims brought by the City of Milan
against UBS Limited, UBS Italia SIM Spa and three other international banks in relation to a 2005 bond
issue and associated derivatives transactions entered into with Milan between 2005 and 2007 were settled
without admission of liability. In 2012, the criminal court in Milan issued a judgment convicting two
current UBS employees and one former employee, together with employees from the three other banks, of
fraud against a public entity in relation to the same bond issue and the execution, and subsequent
restructuring, of the related derivative transactions. In the same proceedings, the Milan criminal court also
found UBS Limited and three other banks liable for the administrative offense of failing to have in place a
business organisational model capable of preventing the criminal offenses of which its employees were
convicted. The sanctions against UBS Limited, which are not effective until appeals are exhausted, are
confiscation of the alleged level of profit flowing from the criminal findings (EUR 16.6 million), a fine in
respect of the finding of the administrative offense (EUR 1 million) and payment of legal fees. UBS has
previously provided for this potential exposure in the amount of EUR 18.5 million. UBS Limited and the
individuals filed their appeal in May 2013.
Derivative transactions with the Regions of Calabria, Tuscany, Lombardy, Lazio and Campania, and the
City of Florence have also been called into question or become the subject of legal proceedings and
claims for damages and other awards. In 2012, UBS AG and UBS Limited settled all civil disputes with
the Regions of Tuscany, Lombardy and Lazio without any admission of liability. In August 2013, a
settlement of all civil and administrative disputes was reached with the City of Florence. Provisions were
booked in respect of these settlements.
8. Kommunale Wasserwerke Leipzig GmbH (“KWL”)
In 2006 and 2007, KWL entered into a series of Credit Default Swap (“CDS”) transactions with bank
swap counterparties, including UBS. UBS entered into back-to-back CDS transactions with the other
counterparties, Depfa Bank plc (“Depfa”) and Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (“LBBW”), in relation to
their respective swaps with KWL. As a result of the KWL CDS transactions and the back-to-back CDS
transactions with Depfa and LBBW, UBS and UBS Limited are owed a total amount of USD 319.8
million, plus interest, which remains unpaid. Specifically, under the CDS contracts between KWL and
UBS, the last of which were terminated by UBS in 2010, a net sum of approximately USD 137.6 million,
plus interest, has fallen due from KWL but not been paid. Earlier in 2010, UBS issued proceedings in the
English High Court against KWL seeking various declarations from the English court, in order to
establish that the swap transaction between KWL and UBS is valid, binding and enforceable as against
KWL. The English court ruled in 2010 that it has jurisdiction and will hear the proceedings and UBS
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issued a further claim seeking declarations concerning the validity of its early termination of the
remaining CDS transactions with KWL. KWL withdrew its appeal from that decision and the civil
dispute is now proceeding before the English court. UBS has added its monetary claim to the
proceedings. KWL is defending against UBS’s claims and has served a counterclaim which also joins
UBS Limited and Depfa to the proceedings. As part of its assertions, KWL claims damages of at least
USD 68 million in respect of UBS’s termination of some of the CDS contracts, whilst disputing that any
monies are owed to UBS pursuant to another CDS contract. UBS, UBS Limited and Depfa are defending
against KWL’s counterclaims, and Depfa has asserted additional claims against UBS and UBS Limited.
In 2010, KWL issued proceedings in Leipzig, Germany against UBS, Depfa and LBBW, claiming that the
swap transactions are void and not binding on the basis of KWL’s allegation that KWL did not have the
capacity or the necessary internal authorisation to enter into the transactions and that the banks knew this.
Upon and as a consequence of KWL withdrawing its appeal on jurisdiction in England, KWL also
withdrew its civil claims against UBS and Depfa in the German courts, and no civil claim will proceed
against either of them in Germany. The proceedings brought by KWL against LBBW have continued in
Leipzig, and in June 2013 the court in Leipzig ruled in LBBW's favour. KWL has filed an appeal against
that ruling. The Leipzig court has also ruled that it is for the London court and not the Leipzig court to
determine the validity and effect of a third party notice served by LBBW on UBS in the Leipzig
proceedings.
The back-to-back CDS transactions were terminated in 2010. In 2010, UBS and UBS Limited issued
separate proceedings in the English High Court against Depfa and LBBW seeking declarations as to the
parties’ obligations under the back-to-back CDS transactions and monetary claims. UBS Limited
contends that it is owed USD 83.3 million, plus interest, by Depfa. UBS contends that it is owed
EUR 75.5 million, plus interest, by LBBW. Depfa and LBBW are defending against the claims and have
also issued counterclaims. Additionally Depfa added a claim against KWL to the proceedings against it
and KWL served a defence.
In 2011, the former managing director of KWL and two financial advisers were convicted on criminal
charges related to certain KWL transactions, including swap transactions with UBS and other banks.
They are all the subject of further ongoing criminal proceedings in Dresden relating to the transactions
with UBS, LBBW and DEPFA.
In 2011, the SEC commenced an investigation concerning, among other things, the suitability of the
KWL transactions. UBS is cooperating with the SEC.
9. Puerto Rico
In 2011, a purported derivative action was filed on behalf of the Employee Retirement System of the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (“System”) against over 40 defendants, including UBS Financial Services
Inc. of Puerto Rico (“UBS PR”) and other consultants and underwriters, trustees of the System, and the
President and Board of the Government Development Bank of Puerto Rico. The plaintiffs alleged that
defendants violated their purported fiduciary duties and contractual obligations in connection with the
issuance and underwriting of approximately three billion dollars of bonds by the System in 2008 and
sought damages of over USD 800 million. UBS is named in connection with its underwriting and
consulting services. In March 2013, the case was dismissed by the Puerto Rico Court of First Instance on
the grounds that plaintiffs did not have standing to bring the claim. That dismissal was overturned by the
Puerto Rico Court of Appeals in September 2013, and UBS is appealing that decision to the Supreme
Court of Puerto Rico. Also, in late 2012, an SEC administrative hearing on securities law violation
charges against two UBS PR executives concluded, with a decision expected in late 2013. The charges
stemmed from the SEC’s investigation of UBS PR’s sale of closed-end funds in 2008 and 2009, which
UBS PR settled in May 2012. Additionally, declines in Puerto Rico municipal bond and closed-end fund
prices since August 2013 have led to regulatory inquiries and customer complaints by clients in Puerto
Rico who own those securities. UBS is also reviewing whether certain clients invested proceeds of non-
purpose loans in closed-end fund securities in contravention of their loan agreements, at the
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recommendation of a financial advisor. Separately, UBSFS has received a request for information
regarding sales of Puerto Rico municipal bonds to Massachusetts residents from the Massachusetts
Securities Division.
10. LIBOR, foreign exchange, and other benchmark rates
Numerous government agencies, including the SEC, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission
(“CFTC”), the US Department of Justice ("DOJ"), the UK Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") (to
which certain responsibilities of the UK Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) have passed), the UK
Serious Fraud Office (“SFO”), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”), the Hong Kong Monetary
Authority (“HKMA”), FINMA, the various state attorneys general in the US, and competition authorities
in various jurisdictions have conducted or are continuing to conduct investigations regarding submissions
with respect to British Bankers’ Association LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) and other
benchmark rates, including HIBOR (Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate) and ISDAFIX. These
investigations focus on whether there were improper attempts by UBS (among others), either acting on its
own or together with others, to manipulate LIBOR and other benchmark rates at certain times.
In June 2013 the MAS announced the results of its investigation of benchmark submissions by twenty
banks, including UBS. The investigation related to various benchmark submissions, including the
Singapore Interbank Offered Rates and the Swap Offered Rates, and covered the period from 2007 to
2011. The MAS found deficiencies in the governance, risk management, internal controls and
surveillance systems for the banks' benchmark submission processes and directed the banks to correct the
deficiencies and set aside additional statutory reserves with MAS at zero interest for one year. The MAS
also announced proposed changes to its regulatory framework for financial benchmarks that are designed
to enhance the integrity of the process for setting benchmarks.
In 2012, UBS reached settlements with the FSA, the CFTC and the Criminal Division of the DOJ in
connection with their investigations of benchmark interest rates. At the same time FINMA issued an order
concluding its formal proceedings with respect to UBS relating to benchmark interest rates. UBS agreed
to pay a total of approximately CHF 1.4 billion in fines and disgorgement – including GBP 160 million in
fines to the FSA, USD 700 million in fines to the CFTC, and CHF 59 million in disgorgement to FINMA.
Under a non-prosecution agreement (“NPA”) that UBS entered into with the DOJ, UBS agreed to pay a
fine of USD 500 million. Pursuant to a separate plea agreement between the DOJ and UBS Securities
Japan Co. Ltd. (“UBSSJ”), UBSSJ entered a plea to one count of wire fraud relating to the manipulation
of certain benchmark interest rates, including Yen LIBOR. The NPA requires UBS to pay the USD 500
million fine to DOJ after the sentencing of UBSSJ, and provides that any criminal penalties imposed on
UBSSJ at sentencing be deducted from the USD 500 million fine. At the sentencing hearing held in
September 2013, the court approved the proposed plea agreement and imposed a USD 100 million fine
against UBSSJ, as agreed to by the DOJ and UBSSJ under the plea agreement. Since the sentencing, UBS
has paid a fine of USD 400 million to the DOJ, and UBSSJ has paid the USD 100 million fine imposed
by the sentencing court. The conduct described in the various settlements and the FINMA order includes
certain UBS personnel: engaging in efforts to manipulate submissions for certain benchmark rates to
benefit trading positions; colluding with employees at other banks and cash brokers to influence certain
benchmark rates to benefit their trading positions; and giving inappropriate directions to UBS submitters
that were in part motivated by a desire to avoid unfair and negative market and media perceptions during
the financial crisis. The benchmark interest rates encompassed by one or more of these resolutions
include Yen LIBOR, GBP LIBOR, CHF LIBOR, Euro LIBOR, USD LIBOR, EURIBOR (Euro Interbank
Offered Rate) and Euroyen TIBOR (Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate). UBS has ongoing obligations to
cooperate with authorities with which it has reached resolutions and to undertake certain remediation with
respect to benchmark interest rate submissions. Investigations by the CFTC and other government
authorities remain ongoing notwithstanding these resolutions.
UBS has been granted conditional leniency or conditional immunity from authorities in certain
jurisdictions, including the Antitrust Division of the DOJ and the Swiss Competition Commission
(“WEKO”), in connection with potential antitrust or competition law violations related to submissions
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for Yen LIBOR and Euroyen TIBOR. WEKO has also granted UBS conditional immunity in connection
with potential competition law violations related to submissions for Swiss franc LIBOR and certain
transactions related to Swiss franc LIBOR. The Canadian Competition Bureau has granted UBS
conditional immunity in connection with potential competition law violations related to submissions for
Yen LIBOR. As a result of these conditional grants, UBS will not be subject to prosecutions, fines or
other sanctions for antitrust or competition law violations in the jurisdictions where it has conditional
immunity or leniency in connection with the matters covered by the conditional grants, subject to UBS’s
continuing cooperation. However, the conditional leniency and conditional immunity grants UBS has
received do not bar government agencies from asserting other claims and imposing sanctions against
UBS, as evidenced by the settlements and ongoing investigations referred to above. In addition, as a result
of the conditional leniency agreement with the DOJ, UBS is eligible for a limit on liability to actual rather
than treble damages were damages to be awarded in any civil antitrust action under US law based on
conduct covered by the agreement and for relief from potential joint and several liability in connection
with such civil antitrust action, subject to UBS satisfying the DOJ and the court presiding over the civil
litigation of its cooperation. The conditional leniency and conditional immunity grants do not otherwise
affect the ability of private parties to assert civil claims against UBS.
In 2011, the Japan Financial Services Agency (“JFSA”) commenced administrative actions and issued
orders against UBS Securities Japan Ltd (UBS Securities Japan) and UBS AG, Tokyo Branch in
connection with their investigation of Yen LIBOR and Euroyen TIBOR. These actions were based on
findings by the Japan Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission (SESC), and, in the case of UBS
AG, Tokyo Branch, the JFSA, that a former UBS Securities Japan trader engaged in inappropriate
conduct relating to Euroyen TIBOR and Yen LIBOR, including approaching UBS AG, Tokyo Branch,
and other banks to ask them to submit TIBOR rates taking into account requests from the trader for the
purpose of benefiting trading positions.
A number of putative class actions and other actions are pending in the federal courts in New York and
other jurisdictions against UBS and numerous other banks on behalf of parties who transacted in certain
interest rate benchmark-based derivatives linked directly or indirectly to US dollar LIBOR, Yen LIBOR,
Euroyen TIBOR and EURIBOR. Also pending are actions asserting losses related to various products
whose interest rate was linked to US dollar LIBOR, including adjustable rate mortgages, preferred and
debt securities, bonds pledged as collateral, loans, depository accounts, investments and other interest
bearing instruments. All of the complaints allege manipulation, through various means, of various
benchmark interest rates, including LIBOR, Euroyen TIBOR or EURIBOR rates and seek unspecified
compensatory and other damages, including treble and punitive damages, under varying legal theories
that include violations of the US Commodity Exchange Act, the federal racketeering statute, federal and
state antitrust and securities laws and other state laws. In March 2013, a federal court in New York
dismissed the federal antitrust and racketeering claims of certain US dollar LIBOR plaintiffs and a portion
of their claims brought under the Commodity Exchange Act.
In August 2013, the same court denied the parties’ requests for reconsideration and plaintiffs’ motion for
interlocutory appeal and to amend the complaints to include additional antitrust and Commodity
Exchange Act allegations. It granted certain plaintiffs permission to assert claims for unjust enrichment
and breach of contract. Certain plaintiffs have also appealed the dismissal of their antitrust claims.
Defendants in other lawsuits including the one related to Euroyen TIBOR have filed motions to dismiss.
With respect to additional matters and jurisdictions not encompassed by the settlements and order referred
to above, UBS's balance sheet at 30 September 2013 reflected a provision of an amount that UBS believes
to be appropriate under the applicable accounting standard. As in the case of other matters for which UBS
has established provisions, the future outflow of resources in respect of such matters cannot be
determined with certainty based on currently available information, and accordingly may ultimately prove
to be substantially greater (or may be less) than the provision that UBS has recognised.
Following an initial media report in June 2013 of widespread irregularities in the foreign exchange
markets, UBS immediately commenced an internal review of its foreign exchange business. Since then,
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various authorities reportedly have commenced investigations concerning possible manipulation of
foreign exchange markets, including FINMA, WEKO, the DOJ, the CFTC and the FCA. UBS and other
financial institutions have received requests from various authorities relating to their foreign exchange
businesses, and UBS is cooperating with the authorities. UBS has taken and will take appropriate action
with respect to certain personnel as a result of its review, which is ongoing.
11. Swiss retrocessions
The Swiss Supreme Court ruled in 2012, in a test case against UBS, that distribution fees paid to a bank
for distributing third party and intra-group investment funds and structured products must be disclosed
and surrendered to clients who have entered into a discretionary mandate agreement with the bank, absent
a valid waiver.
FINMA has issued a supervisory note to all Swiss banks in response to the Supreme Court decision. The
note sets forth the measures Swiss banks are to adopt, which include informing all affected clients about
the Supreme Court decision and directing them to an internal bank contact for further details. UBS has
met the FINMA requirements and has notified all potentially affected clients in the context of the mailing
of the year-end account statements.
It is expected that the Supreme Court decision will result in a significant number of client requests for
UBS to disclose and potentially surrender retrocessions. Client requests are being assessed on a case-by-
case basis. Considerations to be taken into account when assessing these cases include, among others, the
existence of a discretionary mandate and whether or not the client documentation contained a valid
waiver with respect to distribution fees.
UBS's balance sheet at 30 September 2013 reflected a provision with respect to matters described in this
item 11 in an amount that UBS believes to be appropriate under the applicable accounting standard. The
ultimate exposure will depend on client requests and the resolution thereof, factors that are difficult to
predict and assess, particularly in view of the limited experience to date. Hence as in the case of other
matters for which UBS has established provisions, the future outflow of resources in respect of such
matters cannot be determined with certainty based on currently available information, and accordingly
may ultimately prove to be substantially greater (or may be less) than the provision that UBS has
recognised.
12. Banco UBS Pactual tax indemnity
Pursuant to the 2009 sale of Banco UBS Pactual S.A. (“Pactual”) by UBS to BTG Investments, LP
(“BTG”), BTG has submitted contractual indemnification claims that UBS estimates amount to
approximately BRL 2.7 billion, including interest and penalties. The claims pertain principally to several
tax assessments issued by the Brazilian tax authorities against Pactual relating to the period from
December 2006 through March 2009, when UBS owned Pactual. These assessments are being or will be
challenged in administrative proceedings. BTG has also provided notice to UBS of several additional
Pactual-related inquiries by the Brazilian tax authorities that relate to the period of UBS's ownership of
Pactual, but involving substantially smaller amounts.
13. Matters relating to the CDS market
In July 2013 the European Commission (“EC”) issued a Statement of Objections against thirteen credit
default swap (“CDS”) dealers including UBS, as well as data service provider Markit and the
International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”). The Statement of Objections broadly alleges
that the dealers infringed EU antitrust rules by colluding to prevent exchanges from entering the credit
derivatives market between 2006 and 2009. Since mid-2009, the Antitrust Division of the DOJ has also
been investigating whether multiple dealers, including UBS, conspired with each other and with Markit to
restrain competition in the markets for CDS trading, clearing and other services. Since May 2013, several
putative class action complaints have been filed in the Northern District of Illinois and the Southern
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District of New York against twelve dealers, including UBS, as well as Markit and ISDA, alleging
violations of the US Sherman Antitrust Act. The complaints allege that the dealers unlawfully exercised
collective control over Markit and other industry organisations to seek to ensure that CDS continued to
trade over-the-counter rather than on an exchange platform. Plaintiffs seek unspecified trebled
compensatory damages, among other relief. In October 2013, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict
Litigation consolidated all of the pending CDS actions into one action in the Southern District of New
York.
Besides the proceedings specified above under (1) through (13) no governmental, legal or arbitration
proceedings (including any such proceedings which are pending or threatened, of which UBS AG is
aware) which may have, or have had in the recent past, significant effects on UBS AG's and/or UBS
Group's financial position or profitability, are or have been pending during the last twelve months until
the date of this document.
7.6 Material Contracts
No material contracts have been entered into outside of the ordinary course of UBS AG's or UBS Group’s
business, which could result in any member of the UBS Group being under an obligation or entitlement
that is material to UBS AG's ability to meet its obligations to the investors in relation to the issued
securities.
7.7 Significant Changes in the Financial or Trading Position; Material Adverse Change in
Prospects
There has been no significant change in the financial or trading position of UBS Group or of UBS AG
since 30 September 2013. There has been no material adverse change in the prospects of UBS AG or
UBS Group since 31 December 2012.
8. SHARE CAPITAL
As reflected in its Articles of Association most recently registered with the Commercial Register of
Zurich and the Commercial Register of Basel-City, UBS AG has (i) fully paid and issued share capital of
CHF 383,525,023.30, divided into 3,835,250,233 registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.10 each
(section 4), (ii) no authorised capital and (iii) conditional share capital in the amount of CHF
52,551,099.20, comprising 525,510,992 registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.10 each (section 4a).
9. DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
- The Annual Report of UBS AG as of 31 December 2011, comprising the sections (1) Operating
environment and strategy, (2) Financial and operating performance, (3) Risk, treasury and capital
management, (4) Corporate governance, responsibility and compensation, (5) Financial
information (including the “Report of the Statutory Auditor and the Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm on the Consolidated Financial Statements” and the “Report of the
Statutory Auditor on the Financial Statements”);
- The Annual Report of UBS AG as of 31 December 2012, comprising the sections (1) Operating
environment and strategy, (2) Financial and operating performance, (3) Risk, treasury and capital
management, (4) Corporate governance, responsibility and compensation, (5) Financial
information (including the “Report of the statutory auditor and the independent registered public
accounting firm on the consolidated financial statements” and the “Report of the statutory auditor
on the financial statements”);
- UBS's report for the quarters ended 31 March 2013, 30 June 2013 and 30 September 2013
respectively (including unaudited consolidated financial statements); and
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- The Articles of Association of UBS AG,
shall be maintained in printed format, for free distribution, at the offices of UBS AG for a period of
twelve months after the publication of this document. In addition, the annual and quarterly reports of UBS
AG are published on UBS's website, at www.ubs.com/investors or a successor address. The Articles of
Association of UBS AG are also available on UBS's Corporate Governance website, at
www.ubs.com/governance.
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SALE AND TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
No offer, sale, re-sale or delivery of any Notes, or distribution of any offering material relating to any
Notes, may be made in or from any jurisdiction except in circumstances which will result in compliance
with any applicable laws and regulations and which will not impose any obligation on the Issuer. Each
Offeror will be required to agree that it will (to the best of its knowledge and belief) comply with all
applicable securities laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells or
delivers Notes or possesses or distributes the Prospectus and will obtain any and all consent, approval or
permission required by it for the purchase, offer, sale or delivery by it of Notes under the laws and
regulations in force in any jurisdiction to which it is subject or in which it makes such purchase, offer,
sale or delivery and the Issuer shall have no responsibility therefor. The Issuer does not represent that
Notes may at any time lawfully be sold in compliance with any applicable registration or other
requirements in any jurisdiction, or pursuant to any exemption available thereunder, or assume any
responsibility for facilitating such sale.
1. Public Offer Selling Restriction under the Prospectus Directive
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus
Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), the Issuer represents and agrees, and any dealer appointed
under the Programme will be required to represent and agree, that with effect from and including the date
on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant
Implementation Date”) it has not made and will not make any offer of Notes which are the subject of the
offering contemplated by this Base Prospectus as completed by the applicable Final Terms to the public
in that Relevant Member State except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant
Implementation Date, make an offer of such Notes to the public in that Relevant Member State:
(a) if the applicable Final Terms in relation to the Notes specify that an offer of those Notes may
be made other than pursuant to Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant
Member State (a “Public Offer”), following the date of publication of a prospectus in relation
to such Notes which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member
State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the
competent authority in that Relevant Member State, provided that any such prospectus has
subsequently been completed by Final Terms contemplating such Public Offer, in accordance
with the Prospectus Directive, in the period beginning and ending on the dates specified in
such prospectus or Final Terms, as applicable, and the Issuer has consented in writing to its
use for the purpose of that Public Offer;
(b) at any time to any legal entity which is a “qualified investor” as defined in the Prospectus
Directive;
(c) at any time to fewer than 100 or, if the relevant Member State has implemented the relevant
provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than
qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior
consent of the relevant Dealer or Dealers nominated by the Issuer for any such offer; or
(d) at any time in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,
provided that no such offer of Notes referred to in (b), (c) or (d) above shall require the Issuer or any
Dealer to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive, or supplement a
prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of the above provisions:
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(i) the expression an “offer of Notes to the public” in relation to any Notes in any Relevant Member
State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the
terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to make an informed
investment decision as to whether to purchase or subscribe for the Notes, as the same may be
varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that
Member State;
(ii) the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto,
including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member
State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State; and
(iii) the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.
2. United States
The Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 as
amended (the “Securities Act”). Offers, sales, re-sales or deliveries of Notes, or interests therein, directly
or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons will constitute a
violation of United States securities laws unless made in compliance with the registration requirements of
the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption therefrom. As used herein, “United States” means the
United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its
possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction and “U.S. person” means any of (i) a U.S. person as
defined by Regulation S, (ii) a person who does not come within the definition of non-United States
person under Rule 4.7 of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 as amended, or (iii) a United States
person as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the “Code”). Consequently a
U.S. person includes (i) an individual (natural person) who is a citizen or resident of the United States; or
(ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity organised in or under the laws of the United States or any
political subdivision thereof or which has its principal place of business in the United States; or (iii) any
estate or trust which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of the source of its
income; or (iv) any trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over
the administration of the trust and if one or more United States persons have the authority to control all
substantial decisions of the trust; or (v) a pension plan for the employees, officers or principals of a
corporation, partnership or other entity described in (ii) above; or (vi) any entity organised principally for
passive investment, ten per cent. or more of the beneficial interests in which are held by persons described
in (i) to (v) above if such entity was formed principally for the purpose of investment by such persons in a
commodity pool the operator of which is exempt from certain requirements of Part 4 of the United States
Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s regulations by virtue of its participants being non-U.S.
persons, or (vii) any other U.S. person as such term may be defined in Regulation S under the United
States Securities Act of 1933 as amended or in regulations adopted under the United States Commodity
Exchange Act of 1936 as amended.
Notes may not at any time be offered, sold, re-sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States
or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. person or to others for offer, sale, re-sale or delivery,
directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any such U.S. person.
Furthermore, trading in the Notes has not been approved by the United States Commodity Futures
Trading Commission under the United States Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 as amended, and no U.S.
person may at any time trade or maintain a position in the Notes.
No U.S. person or person located in the United States may at any time trade or maintain a position in the
Notes, and any person entitled to receive an interim payment or final payment or exercising any right to
receive a payment under (or entitled to receive any amount at maturity or exercise under) the Note may be
required by the Issuer and/or its agents or relevant nominee to certify that neither it nor the beneficial
owner of the instrument is a U.S. person or is located in the United States prior to receiving any such
payment or amount.
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Each purchaser and transferee of a Note will be deemed to have represented by its purchase or receipt of
the Note that, at the time of the purchase or receipt, and throughout the period that it holds the Note, it is
not (i) an employee benefit plan subject to the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as
amended, (ii) a plan subject to Section 4975 of the Code, or (iii) any entity whose assets are treated as
assets of any such employee benefit plan or plan.
3. United Kingdom
The Issuer has represented and agreed, and any dealer appointed under the Programme will be required to
represent and agree, that:
(a) in relation to any Notes which have a maturity of less than one year, (i) it is a person whose
ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as
principal or agent) for the purposes of its business and (ii) it has not offered or sold and will
not offer or sell any Notes other than to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in
acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or as agent) for the
purposes of their businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or
dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses where the
issue of the Notes would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the FSMA by
the Issuer;
(b) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause
to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the
meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any
Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA would not, if the Issuer were not
an authorised person, apply to the Issuer; and
(c) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to
anything done by it in relation to any Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United
Kingdom.
4. Republic of Italy
Unless it is specified within the relevant Final Terms that a Public Offer may be made in Italy, the
offering of the Notes has not been registered pursuant to Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, no
Notes may be offered, sold or delivered, nor may copies of the Prospectus (including the relevant Final
Terms) or of any other document relating to the Notes be distributed in the Republic of Italy, except:
(i) to qualified investors (investitori qualificati), as defined pursuant to Article 100 of the Italian
Financial Services Act and Article 34-ter, first paragraph, letter b) of CONSOB Regulation No.
11971; or
(ii) in other circumstances which are exempted from the rules on public offerings pursuant to Article
100 of the Italian Financial Services Act and Article 34-ter of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971.
Any offer, sale or delivery of the Notes or distribution of copies of the Base Prospectus (including the
applicable Final Terms) or any other document relating to the Notes in the Republic of Italy under (i) or
(ii) above must be:
(a) made by an investment firm, bank or financial intermediary permitted to conduct such activities
in the Republic of Italy in accordance with the Italian Financial Services Act, CONSOB
Regulation No. 16190 and the Italian Banking Act; and
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(b) in compliance with Article 129 of the Italian Banking Act, as amended, and the implementing
guidelines of the Bank of Italy, as amended from time to time, pursuant to which the Bank of Italy
may request information on the issue or the offer of securities in the Republic of Italy; and
(c) in compliance with any other applicable laws and regulations or requirement imposed by
CONSOB or any other Italian authority.
In accordance with Article 100-bis of the Italian Financial Services Act, where no exemption from the
rules on public offerings applies under (i) and (ii) above, Notes which are initially offered and placed in
the Republic of Italy or abroad to qualified investors only but in the following year are regularly
(sistematicamente) distributed on the secondary market in Italy to non-qualified investors become subject
to the public offer and the prospectus requirement rules provided under the Italian Financial Services Act
and CONSOB Regulation No. 11971. Failure to comply with such rules may result in the sale of such
Notes being declared null and void and in the liability of the intermediary transferring the Notes for any
damages suffered by such non-qualified investors.
5. Switzerland
The Notes may not be publicly offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in, into or from
Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange or on any other exchange or regulated
trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this Base Prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material
relating to the Notes constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 652a or article
1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of
the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other regulated trading facility in Switzerland or a simplified prospectus
or a prospectus as such term is defined in the Swiss Collective Investment Scheme Act (“CISA”), and
neither this Base Prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Notes may be
publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this Base Prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, nor the
Notes, have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. The Notes are not
subject to the approval or supervision by the Swiss Financial Markets Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”),
and investors in the Notes will not benefit from protection under CISA or supervision by FINMA.
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TAXATION
1. General
Transactions involving Notes including the purchase, ownership, disposition, lapse and redemption of
Notes may have tax consequences for potential purchasers which may depend, amongst other things,
upon the conditions applicable to the Notes, the status and circumstances of the potential purchaser and
the applicable law and practice of taxation authorities in relevant jurisdictions.
POTENTIAL PURCHASERS WHO ARE IN ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE TAX POSITION IN
RESPECT OF ANY ASPECT OF TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE NOTES OR THE
OWNERSHIP OF THE NOTES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISERS.
Potential purchasers of the Notes should note that they may be required to pay stamp taxes and other
charges in accordance with the laws and practices of the country of purchase or other relevant
jurisdictions, depending upon the circumstances, in addition to the value of each Note.
2. Tax Considerations in the United Kingdom
(a) General
The following paragraphs summarise certain limited aspects of the U.K. taxation treatment of holding
Notes. They are based on current U.K. law and HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) practice, both of
which are subject to change, possibly with retrospective effect. The following paragraphs relate to
Noteholders who are within the charge to U.K. income tax or corporation tax but do not apply to certain
categories of Noteholders, such as dealers in securities. The statements in this summary are intended only
as a general guide, and should be treated with appropriate caution. Any person who is contemplating
acquiring Notes (whether from the Issuer or an Offeror), particularly if that person is subject to taxation in
any jurisdiction other than the U.K., is strongly recommended to consult his professional advisers
immediately.
(b) Withholding Tax
No payments made by the Issuer to Noteholders in respect of Notes are required to be made under
deduction or withholding for or on account of U.K. tax. The Issuer is principally not liable for the
withholding of taxes at the source.
(c) Corporation Tax on Income and Gains
In general, a Noteholder which is subject to U.K. corporation tax will be treated for tax purposes as
realising profits, gains or losses in respect of Notes on a basis reflecting the treatment in its statutory
accounts, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices or international
accounting standards. These profits, gains or losses, (which will include any profits, gains or losses on a
disposal or redemption of Notes) will be treated as income for the purposes of a Noteholder’s U.K.
corporation tax computation.
(d) Capital Gains Tax (Individuals)
Provided the Notes are not treated as “deeply discounted securities” for U.K. tax purposes, any transfer or
redemption of a Note by a Noteholder who is a U.K. individual will be a disposal of that Note for U.K.
capital gains tax purposes which may, subject to any available exemption or relief, give rise to a
chargeable gain or allowable loss for those purposes. The Issuer has received a non-statutory clearance
dated 7 October 2008 from HMRC that, in its view, the Notes are not deeply discounted securities.
However, since (i) this clearance is addressed to the Issuer, (ii) there can be no assurance that HMRC’s
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view has not changed since the date of such clearance and (iii) such clearance is not binding on HMRC in
its dealings with Noteholders, investors may wish to consult their own tax advisors in this respect.
(e) Income Tax (Individuals)
If the Notes are treated as “deeply discounted securities” for U.K. tax purposes then it is likely that any
profit arising to a Noteholder who is a U.K. individual on transfer or redemption of a Note will be subject
to U.K. income tax and not to U.K. capital gains tax. As noted in “Capital Gains Tax (Individuals)”
above, the Issuer has received a non-statutory clearance from HMRC dated 7 October 2008 that the Notes
are not deeply discounted securities.
The Finance Bill 2013 includes draft legislation introducing a new income tax charge on returns that are
“economically equivalent to interest”. This income tax charge applies where:
(1) it is reasonable to assume that the return is a return by reference to the time value of money;
(2) the return is at a rate reasonably comparable to what is, in all the circumstances, a commercial rate
of interest; and
(3) at the relevant time there is no practical likelihood that it will cease to be produced in accordance
with the arrangements.
On the assumption that the draft legislation is enacted in its current form, it is unlikely that any profit
arising to a Noteholder who is a U.K. individual on transfer or redemption will be treated as a return
“economically equivalent to interest”, but the position cannot be confirmed until the Finance Bill 2013
has received Royal Assent and investors may therefore wish to consult their own tax advisors in this
respect.
(f) Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (“SDRT”)
The issue or transfer of Notes will not give rise to a charge to U.K. stamp duty or SDRT provided that no
such transfer takes place in the U.K.
(g) Inheritance Tax (Individuals)
For the purposes of inheritance tax, Notes may form part of the value of the estate of a Noteholder who is
an individual and inheritance tax may (subject to certain exemptions and reliefs) become payable in
respect of the value of Notes on a gift of those Notes by, or the death of, a Noteholder who is an
individual. Such a tax charge may be subject to appropriate provisions in any applicable Double Tax
Treaty.
(h) Implementation in the UK of the European Savings Directive
E.U. Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income (the “EU Savings Directive”)
applies, amongst other matters, to payments of interest or other income on debt claims of every kind made
by a paying agent in an E.U. Member State for the benefit of individual investors resident in another
Member State in the E.U. In circumstances where the EU Saving Directive applies, such a paying agent
would be under an obligation to provide information to the tax authorities of the E.U. Member States in
which individual investors reside. A paying agent for these purposes is any economic operator who pays
interest to, or secures interest for, the beneficial owner, and could in relation to the Notes include the
Issuer or a U.K. broker effecting the sale of Notes.
However, for a transitional period, Luxembourg and Austria are instead permitted (unless during that
period they elect otherwise) to levy a withholding tax (35% rate) in relation to such payments (the ending
of such transitional period being dependent upon the conclusion of certain other agreements relating to
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information exchange with certain other countries). A number of non-EU countries and territories
including Switzerland have agreed to adopt similar measures (a withholding system in the case of
Switzerland).
The European Commission has proposed certain amendments to the Directive, which may, if
implemented, amend or broaden the scope of the requirements described above.
However, as no return in respect of the Notes will constitute a payment of interest for the purposes of the
Directive, it is not envisaged that Noteholders or their paying agents will be within the scope of the
Directive.
2. Tax Considerations in Switzerland
(a) General
The following paragraphs summarise certain limited aspects of Swiss taxation of holding Notes. They are
based on current Swiss law and practice, both of which are subject to change, possibly with retrospective
effect. The statements in this summary are intended only as a general guide, and should be treated with
appropriate caution. Any person who is contemplating acquiring Notes (whether from the Issuer or an
Offeror), is strongly recommended to consult his professional advisers immediately.
(b) Withholding Tax
Payments to the Noteholders under the Notes may be subject to Swiss withholding tax at the rate of 35
per cent.
In August 2011, the Swiss Federal Council proposed draft legislation which is part of the Swiss TBTF
legislation. This draft legislation foresees a shift from the current source withholding tax system to a
paying agent tax system with regard to interest payments on bonds. According to the current practice of
the Swiss Federal Tax Administration certain structured products qualify as bonds. Therefore, Swiss
paying agents such as banks in Switzerland might be required to deduct Swiss withholding tax at a rate of
35 per cent. on certain payments to certain investors irrespective of the fact whether the Notes are issued
by London Branch or the Swiss head office of UBS AG. According to the draft legislation Swiss paying
agents would be required to deduct a Swiss paying agent tax on interest paid on bonds to Swiss-resident
individuals as final recipients. For the time being not all relevant details of the proposed regime are
published. In summer 2012 the Swiss parliament decided to postpone the project and instructed the Swiss
Federal Council to make further inquiries on the estimated effects of such changes to the Swiss
withholding tax system.
Neither the Issuer nor any other person would pursuant to the Conditions be obliged to pay additional
amounts with respect to any notes as a result of the deduction or imposition of such Swiss withholding
tax. The Issuer is principally not liable for the withholding of taxes at the source.
(c) Income Tax
Payments to a Noteholder who is a non-resident of Switzerland and who during the taxable year has not
engaged in trade or business through a permanent establishment within Switzerland will not be subject to
any Swiss Federal, Cantonal or Municipal income tax or other tax on gains realised during the year on the
sale or redemption of a Note.
(d) EU Savings Directive
Paying agents domiciled in Switzerland may be obliged to deduct a retention or withholding tax under the
EU Savings Directive if certain criteria are met.
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(e) Tax Agreements with the UK and Austria
On 1 January 2013, bilateral agreements on cooperation in the area of taxation between Switzerland and
the UK respectively between Switzerland and Austria have come into force (the “Tax Agreements”).
Under the Tax Agreements, paying agents domiciled in Switzerland may be obliged to deduct a final
withholding tax on certain income and capital gains of bankable assets held with a Swiss paying agent if
certain criteria are met. As a rule, the Tax Agreements provide that a final withholding tax is not levied
where the EU Savings Directive applies.
(f) Inheritance and Gift Tax (Individuals)
The transfer of notes by way of inheritance or gift may be subject to inheritance and gift tax in
Switzerland to the extent that the defunct or donor, respectively, is Swiss tax resident. Under the current
laws, gifts to and inheritances by direct descendants are exempt in most (but not all) of the Swiss cantons.
However, a referendum is expected to be held during the course of the year 2014 on an initiative aiming
to introduce a federal gift and inheritance tax which, should it come into effect, may render gifts (subject
to certain exemptions and reliefs) subject to a gift tax with retroactive effect from 1 January 2012.
(g) Stamp Duty
Notes sold through a bank or another securities dealer (for the purposes of the Swiss stamp duty act)
resident in Switzerland or Liechtenstein may be subject to stamp duty. Other than in relation to Notes that
are sold through a bank or another securities dealer (for the purposes of the Swiss stamp duty act) resident
in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, there is no stamp duty liability in Switzerland in connection with the
issue, redemption or secondary market trading of the Notes.
3. Tax considerations in the Republic of Italy
(a) General
The following is a summary of current Italian law and practice relating to the taxation of the Italian
Certificates. The statements herein regarding taxation are based on the laws in force in Italy as at the date
of this Base Prospectus and are subject to any changes in law occurring after such date, which changes
could be made on a retroactive basis. The following summary does not purport to be a comprehensive
description of all the tax considerations which may be relevant to a decision to subscribe for, purchase,
own or dispose of the Italian Certificates and does not purport to deal with the tax consequences
applicable to all categories of investors, some of which (such as dealers in securities or commodities) may
be subject to special rules.
With regard to financial instruments having the same tax characterisation of the Italian Certificates there
is currently neither case law nor specific comments of the Italian tax authorities as to the tax treatment.
Accordingly, it cannot be excluded that the Italian tax authorities and Courts may adopt a view different
from that outlined below. Prospective purchasers of the Italian Certificates are advised to consult their
own tax advisers concerning the overall tax consequences of their ownership of the Italian Certificates.
(b) Italian taxation of Italian Certificates
Pursuant to the generally followed interpretation of the Italian tax law, capital gains or other incomes
related to financial instruments linked to an index are subject to the rules provided by article 67, section 3,
lett. c-quarter) of Presidential Decree No. 917 of 22 December 1986 (“TUIR”) and Legislative Decree
No. 461 of 21 November 1997.
Where the Italian resident Certificateholder is:
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(i) an individual not engaged in an entrepreneurial activity to which the Italian Certificates are
connected,
(ii) a non-commercial partnership, pursuant to article 5 of TUIR (with the exception of general
partnership, limited partnership and similar entities)
(iii) a non-commercial private or public institution, or
(iv) an investor exempt from Italian corporate income taxation,
capital gains accrued under the sale or the exercise of the Italian Certificates are subject to a 20 per cent.
substitute tax (such tax, an “imposta sostitutiva”).
In respect of the application of imposta sostitutiva, the recipient may opt for three different taxation
criteria, as subsequently amended.
(1) Under the tax declaration regime (regime della dichiarazione), which is the default regime for
taxation of capital gains realised by Italian resident individuals not engaged in an entrepreneurial
activity to which the Italian Certificates are connected, the imposta sostitutiva on capital gains
will be chargeable, on a yearly cumulative basis, on all capital gains, net of any off settable
capital loss, realised by the Italian resident individual holding the Italian Certificates pursuant to
all sales or redemptions of the Italian Certificates carried out during any given tax year. Italian
resident individuals must indicate the overall capital gains realised in any tax year, net of any
relevant incurred capital loss, in the annual tax return and pay imposta sostitutiva on such gains
together with any balance income tax due for such year. Capital losses in excess of capital gains
may be carried forward against capital gains realised in any of the four succeeding tax years.
Capital losses realised before 1 January 2012 may be carried forward to be offset against
subsequent capital gains of the same nature for an overall amount of 62.5 per cent. of the relevant
capital losses.
(2) As an alternative to the tax declaration regime, Italian resident individuals holding the Italian
Certificates may elect to pay the imposta sostitutiva separately on capital gains realised on each
sale or redemption of the Italian Certificates (the “risparmio amministrato”) regime provided
for by Article 6 of the Legislative Decree No. 461 of 21 November 1997, as a subsequently
amended, the “Decree No. 461”). Such separate taxation of capital gains is allowed subject to
(i) the Italian Certificates being deposited with Italian banks, SIMs or certain authorised financial
intermediaries; and
(ii) an express valid election for the risparmio amministrato regime being punctually made in
writing by the relevant Italian Certificate holder.
The depository is responsible for accounting for imposta sostitutiva in respect of capital gains
realised on each sale or redemption of the Italian Certificates (as well as in respect of capital
gains realised upon the revocation of its mandate), net of any incurred capital loss, and is required
to pay the relevant amount to the Italian tax authorities on behalf of the taxpayer, deducting a
corresponding amount from the proceeds to be credited to the Italian Certificate holder or using
funds provided by the holder of the Italian Certificates for this purpose. Under the risparmio
amministrato regime, where a sale or redemption of the Italian Certificates results in a capital
loss, such loss may be deducted from capital gains subsequently realised, within the same
securities management, in the same tax year or in the following tax years up to the fourth. Under
the risparmio amministrato regime, the Italian Certificate holder is not required to declare the
capital gains in the annual tax return. Capital losses realised before 1 January 2012 may be
carried forward to be offset against subsequent capital gains of the same nature for an overall
amount of 62.5 per cent. of the relevant capital losses.
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(3) Any capital gains realised or accrued by Italian resident individuals holding the Italian
Certificates who have entrusted the management of their financial assets, including the Italian
Certificates, to an authorised intermediary and have validly opted for the so-called “risparmio
gestito” regime (the “resparmio gestito”) regime provided for by Article 7 of the Decree No.
461) will be included in the computation of the annual increase in value of the managed assets
accrued, even if not realised, at year end, subject to a 20 per cent. substitute tax, to be paid by the
managing authorised intermediary. Under this risparmio gestito regime, any depreciation of the
managed assets accrued at year end may be carried forward against increase in value of the
managed assets accrued in any of the four succeeding tax years. Under the risparmio gestito
regime, the holder of the Italian Certificates is not required to declare the capital gains realised in
the annual tax return. Depreciation of the management assets accrued 1 January 2012 may be
carried forward to be offset against subsequent increase of value for an overall amount of 62.5 per
cent. of the relevant depreciation.
Where Notes are not deposited with an authorised intermediary, the imposta sostitutiva is applied and
withheld by any entity paying interest to a Noteholder. If interest and other proceeds on the Notes are not
collected through an authorised intermediary or any entity paying interest and as such no imposta
sostitutiva is levied, the Italian resident beneficial owners listed above under (i) to (iv) will be required to
include interest and other proceeds in their yearly income tax return and subject them to a final substitute
tax at a rate of 20 per cent.
Where an Italian resident Italian Certificate holder is a company or similar commercial entity, or the
Italian permanent establishment of a foreign commercial entity to which the Italian Certificates are
effectively connected, or a resident individual engaged in an entrepreneurial activity to which the Italian
Certificate are connected, capital gains arising from the Italian Certificates will not be subject to imposta
sostitutiva, but must be included in the relevant holder of the Italian Certificates’ income tax return and
are therefore subject to Italian corporate tax (and, in certain circumstances, depending on the “status” of
the holder of the Italian Certificates, also as a part of the net value of production for IRAP - the regional
tax on productive activities - purposes). IRAP is levied at an ordinary rate of 3.9 per cent. Higher or lower
rates are levied depending on the Region and the activity carried out.
Any capital gains realised by an Italian Certificate holder which is an open-ended or closed-ended
investment fund (subject to the tax regime provide by Law No. 77 of 23 March 1983) or a SICAV will be
included in the result of the relevant portfolio accrued and will not be subject to either substitutive tax or
any other income tax at the level of such fund or SICAV. According to article 2, section 6, of the Decree
Law No. 138/2011, a withholding tax of 20% will be levied on proceeds distributed by the investments
funds or the SICAV.
Capital gains on the Italian Certificate held by real estate funds, to which the provisions of Law Decree
No. 351 of 25 September 2001, as subsequently amended, apply, are not subject to any substitute tax nor
to any other income tax in the hands of the fund. The income of the real estate funds is subject to tax, in
the hands of the unitholder, depending on status and percentage of participation.
Any capital gains realised by an Italian Certificate holder which is an Italian pension funds (subject to the
regime provided by article 17 of the Legislative Decree No. 252 of 5 December 2005) will be included in
the result of the relevant portfolio accrued at the end of the tax period, to be subject to the 11 per cent. ad
hoc substitute tax.
Capital gains realised by non-Italian resident Italian Certificate holders from the sale or redemption of
Italian Certificate are not subject to Italian taxation provided that the Italian Certificates are transferred on
regulated markets.
Neither the Issuer nor any other person would pursuant to the Conditions be obliged to pay additional
amounts with respect to any notes as a result of the deduction or imposition of Italian withholding tax.
The Issuer is principally not liable for the withholding of taxes at the source.
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(c) Inheritance and gift taxes
Pursuant to Law Decree No. 262 of 3 October 2006, (“Decree No. 262”), converted into Law No. 286 of
24 November 2006, the transfers of any valuable asset (including shares, bonds or other securities) as a
result of death or donation are taxed as follows:
(i) transfers in favour of spouses and direct descendants or direct ancestors are subject to an
inheritance and gift tax applied at a rate of 4 per cent. on the value of the inheritance or the gift
exceeding EUR 1,000,000;
(ii) transfers in favour of relatives to the fourth degree and relatives-in-law to the third degree, are
subject to an inheritance and gift tax applied at a rate of 6 per cent. on the entire value of the
inheritance or the gift. Transfers in favour of brothers/sisters are subject to the 6 per cent.
inheritance and gift tax on the value of the inheritance or the gift exceeding EUR 100,000; and
(iii) any other transfer is, in principle, subject to an inheritance and gift tax applied at a rate of 8 per
cent. on the entire value of the inheritance or the gift.
(d) Stamp duty
Pursuant to Article 19 (1) of Decree No. 201 of 6 December 2011 (“Decree 201”), a proportional stamp
duty applies on an annual basis to the periodic reporting communications sent by Italian financial
intermediaries to their clients for the securities deposited therewith.
The stamp duty applies at a rate of 0.1 per cent. for year 2012 and at 0.15 per cent. for subsequent years;
this stamp duty is determined on the basis of the market value or – if no market value figure is available –
the nominal value or redemption amount of the securities held. The stamp duty cannot be lower than
EUR 34.20 and, for the year 2012 only, it cannot exceed EUR 1,200.
Under first interpretations of such law, it may be understood that the stamp duty applies both to Italian
resident and non-Italian resident Certificates holders, to the extent that the securities are held through
Italian-based financial intermediaries. Where the Italian Certificates are held by an Italian resident
individual, not deposited in Italy and not managed by Italian financial intermediaries, a stamp duty (called
IVAFE) is applicable starting from the year 2011, at the yearly-based rate of 0.1 per cent for years 2011
and 2012 and 0.15 per cent from year 2013.
The taxable base is equal to the assets’ fair market value at the end of each year in the place where the
assets are held and it is calculated by using the documentation released by the foreign financial
intermediaries. In absence of such documentation, the taxable base is equal to the assets’ nominal value or
the reimbursement value. In any case, IVAFE is due in proportion to the ownership quota and to the
holding period. Taxpayers may credit against IVAFE the amount of wealth taxes paid in the country
where the financial assets are held. Some uncertainties exist in relation to such tax and the first guidelines
of the tax administration are still expected.
A Financial Transaction Tax (the Tobin Tax) may be applicable, from 1 July 2013, to certain financial
transactions (including those linked to an index) regardless of the place of conclusion of the transaction
and the state of residence of the counterparties. The terms of application and payment of Tobin Tax will
be defined by a Decree still to be issued.
(e) Implementation in Italy of the EU Savings Directive
Italy has implemented the EU Savings Directive through Legislative Decree No. 84 of 18 April 2005
(“Decree No. 84”). Under Decree No. 84, subject to a number of important conditions being met, in the
case of interest paid to individuals which qualify as beneficial owners of the interest payment and are
resident for tax purposes in another Member State, Italian qualified paying agents shall not apply the
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withholding tax and shall report to the Italian Tax Authorities details of the relevant payments and
personal information on the individual beneficial owner. Such information is transmitted by the Italian
Tax Authorities to the competent foreign tax authorities of the State of residence of the beneficial owner.
4. Tax Considerations in the United States
The Notes offered hereby are not being offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or
benefit of, U.S. persons, nor have the terms of the Notes been designed with the intention of their being
offered, sold or held by U.S. persons or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person. “U.S. person” means
any of (i) a U.S. person as defined by Regulation S, (ii) a person who does not come within the definition
of non-United States person under Rule 4.7 of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act of 1936 as amended, or
(iii) a United States person as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended. Neither this
Prospectus nor any Prospectus Supplement related to any Notes will contain any U.S. tax disclosure.
The United States tax treatment of the Notes is uncertain and the Issuer makes no warranty, statement or
undertaking as to any U.S. tax treatment of the Notes, whether the Notes are to be treated as debt or are to
have any other characterisation for U.S. tax purposes, or any U.S. tax consequences of buying, selling or
hold the Notes.
If you are or may be a U.S. taxpayer that is not a U.S. person, you are urged to consult with your own tax
advisors to determine the appropriate characterisation of any Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes
and applicable U.S. federal tax consequences of buying, selling or holding any Notes or beneficial
interests in any Notes.
UBS AG and its Affiliates do not provide tax advice. Accordingly, any discussion of U.S. tax matters
contained herein is not intended to be used, and cannot be used, in connection with the promotion,
marketing or recommendation by anyone for the purpose of avoiding U.S. tax payments or tax-related
penalties. For certain U.S. withholding tax risks associated with the Notes, see “Payments on or with
respect to the Notes may be subject to U.S. withholding under FATCA” under “Risk Factors” above.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Clearing Systems
The Notes have been accepted for clearance through Euroclear and Clearstream (which are the entities in
charge of keeping the records). The appropriate Common Code and ISIN for each Series of Notes
allocated by Euroclear and Clearstream will be specified in the applicable Final Terms. If the Notes are to
clear through an additional or alternative clearing system the appropriate information will be specified in
the applicable Final Terms. The address of Euroclear is Euroclear Bank SA/NV, 1 Boulevard du Roi
Albert II, B-1210 Brussels and the address of Clearstream is Clearstream Banking, 42 Avenue JF
Kennedy, L-1855 Luxembourg.
2. Documents available for inspection
For the period of 12 months following the date of this Base Prospectus, copies of the following
documents will, when published, be available for inspection from the registered office of the Issuer:
(a) the documents listed under “Documents Incorporated by Reference”;
(b) the documents listed at “Description of UBS AG - Documents on Display”;
(c) the form of Temporary Global Note;
(d) the form of Permanent Global Note;
(e) the Technical Document;
(f) the Articles of Association of UBS AG; and
(g) a copy of this Base Prospectus; and
(h) any future offering circulars, prospectuses, information memoranda, supplements and Final
Terms to this Base Prospectus and any other documents incorporated herein or therein by
reference.
3. Statements of no significant change or material adverse change
There has been no significant change in the financial or trading position of the UBS Group since
30 September 2013. There has been no material adverse change in the prospects of the UBS
Group since 31 December 2012.
4. General Information
(a) The establishment of the Programme and the issue of the Notes have been approved by the Issuer.
The Issuer has obtained all necessary consents, approvals and authorisations in connection with
the issue and performance of the Notes, and all necessary corporate action has been taken by the
Issuer in connection with authorising the issue of the Notes.
(b) Up to US$1,000,000,000 in aggregate Notional Amount of any Series of Notes may be issued
pursuant to this Prospectus.
(c) It is expected that each Series of Notes which is to be admitted to the Official List and to trading
on the London Stock Exchange’s regulated market will be admitted separately as and when
issued, subject only to the issue of a Global Note initially representing the Notes of such Series.
Application may be been made to the UK Listing Authority for Notes issued under the
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Programme to be admitted to the Official List and to the London Stock Exchange for such Notes
to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s regulated market.
(d) The Issuer intends to publish annual and interim financial statements and any applicable Final
Terms as required by the Listing Rules and Prospectus Rules and applicable Swiss law and
regulation and to publish any applicable Final Terms and other information with respect to the
Notes on its website at http://www.ubs.com/cmci. Save as aforesaid, the Issuer does not intend to
provide post-issuance information in relation to any issues of Note.
(e) The Issuer will perform its functions in respect of the Notes through its London Branch. Under
the Conditions, the Issuer has a right to change the branch through which it is acting, but a branch
of the Issuer is not a separate legal entity and the Notes will constitute direct, unconditional,
unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer.
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DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply throughout this Prospectus (including the Conditions):
“Additional Entities” means each entity or type of entity specified as such in the Final
Terms;
“Additional Business Centre” means each additional business centre specified as such in the relevant
Final Terms;
“Affiliate” means in relation to a person or entity:
(a) any other person or entity who directly or in directly, is in
control of, or controlled by, or is under common control with,
such person or entity; or
(b) any other person or entity which is a director, member, officer,
employee or general partner:
(i) of such person or entity;
(ii) of any subsidiary or parent company of such person or
entity; or
(iii) of any person or entity described in (a) above.
For the purposes of this definition, “control” of a person or entity shall
mean ownership of a majority of the voting power of such person or
entity;
“Annual Exercise Date” means in respect of a particular Series of Notes, the day in each year
which falls on the anniversary of the Trade Date in respect of those
Notes;
“BaFin” means the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority in its capacity as
competent authority for the purposes of the German Securities
Prospectus Act;
“Bloomberg” means Bloomberg L.P.;
“Business Day” means a day which is both:
(a) a day on which commercial banks are open for business
(including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign currency
deposits) in London and any Additional Business Centre
specified in the Final Terms; and
(b) either (i) a day on which commercial banks are open for
business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign
currency deposits) in the principal financial centre of the
country of the Currency of Payment or (ii) in relation to any
sum payable in Euro, a day on which the Target System is
open;
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“Calculation Agent” means UBS AG, London Branch or any successor appointed by the
Issuer to act as its agent for the purposes specified in Condition 9;
“class” means a class of Notes under which the Issuer’s obligations to make
payment are determined by reference to a particular Index;
“Clearing System Business
Day”
means in respect of the clearing system for Component Contracts, any
day which such clearing system is scheduled to open for the
acceptance and execution of settlement institutions in relation to those
Component Contracts;
“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, a company incorporated
under the laws of Luxembourg;
“Closing Level” means the official closing level of the relevant Index as calculated and
published by the Index Sponsors;
“Closing Time” means in respect of an Exchange, the time at which trading on that
Exchange generally ceases;
“CMCI” means the “UBS Bloomberg CMCI (Constant Maturity Commodity
Index)” as calculated by the Index Sponsors;
“CMCI Composite Index” means the main benchmark index of the CMCI Index Family,
comprising every commodity eligible at that time for inclusion in the
CMCI;
“CMCI Index Family” means all CMCI commodity indices calculated and published by the
Index Sponsors in accordance with the terms of the Technical
Document;
“Component Contract” means in respect of each physical commodity represented in an Index,
the exchange traded future or exchange traded option contracts for that
physical commodity, the settlement prices of which are used to
calculate the level of that Index;
“Conditions” means the terms and conditions set out under “Terms and Conditions”
as completed by the relevant Final Terms. To the extent that the
information in any Final Terms specifies those terms and conditions, it
shall do so only for the purpose of the Series to which the relevant
Final Terms relate. Any reference to a numbered Condition or
paragraph is a reference to that Condition or paragraph as set out in
those terms and conditions;
“CONSOB” means The Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa;
“CONSOB Regulation 11971” means CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as from time
to time amended;
“CONSOB Regulation 16190” means CONSOB Regulation NO. 16190 of 29 October 2007 as from
time to time amended;
“CREST” means the central securities depository for the U.K. markets and Irish
stocks;
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“Currency of Payment” means (i) in respect of Notes (other than Italian Certificates), as
specified in the Final Terms and (ii) in respect of Italian Certificates,
EUR;
“Current Index Level” means as at any date the level of the relevant Index calculated using
the closing settlement prices of the Component Contracts as at the
applicable date;
“Current Index Performance
Ratio”
means a figure equal to Current Index Level / Index Starting Level;
“Data di Scadenza” means, in respect of Italian Certificates, the date specified as such in
the relevant Final Terms;
“Disrupted Day” means any Scheduled Trading Day on which:
(a) the Index Sponsor fails to publish the official closing level of
the Index;
(b) an Exchange fails to open for trading during its regular trading
session; or
(c) a Market Disruption Event has occurred which the Calculation
Agent in its sole discretion and acting in good faith determines
as being material;
“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. a company incorporated in Belgium;
“European Economic Area” means the member states of the European Union (EU), except Croatia,
plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway;
“Events of Default” means the occurrence of any of the events as specified in Condition 12;
“Exchange” means each exchange on which Component Contracts are traded, as
determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion;
“Exchange Business Day” means any Scheduled Trading Day on which an Exchange is open for
trading during their respective regular trading sessions,
notwithstanding any such Exchange closing prior to its Scheduled
Closing Time;
“Exchange Date” means the date which is 40 days after the Issue Date;
“Exchange Event” means (i) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) if
any Permanent Global Note is held on behalf of Euroclear or
Clearstream Luxembourg or any other clearing system, any such
clearing system:
(a) being closed for business for a continuous period of 14 days
(other than by reason of holidays, statutory or otherwise);
(b) announcing an intention permanently to cease business; or
(c) permanently ceases business;
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“Extraordinary Resolution” means (a) a resolution passed at a meeting of the Noteholders duly
convened and held in accordance with the provisions of the relevant
Global Note by a majority consisting of not less than 75 per cent. of
the persons voting on the resolution upon a show of hands or, if a poll
was duly demanded, by a clear majority consisting of not less than 75
per cent. of the votes given on the poll or (b) a resolution in writing
signed by or on behalf of Noteholders holding not less than 75 per
cent. of the Notes of the relevant Series outstanding, which resolution
in writing may be contained in one document or in several documents
in similar form each signed by or on behalf of one or more of the
Noteholders;
“Fee Amount” means the amount calculated in accordance with Condition 5.5;
“Fee Amount Calculation
Date”
means any day on which the Calculation Agent calculates a Fee
Amount;
“Fee Level” means in relation to any Series of Notes the percentage amount
specified in the Final Terms applicable to such Series;
“FFI” means a foreign financial institution for the purposes of FATCA;
“Final Terms” means the final terms in respect of a particular class and particular
Series of Notes to be issued by the Issuer in substantially the form set
out in “Form of Final Terms” to the Prospectus;
“Financial and/or Credit
Institution”
means an entity the principal activity of which is to acquire holdings or
to carry on banking, credit, insurance, investment or other activities of
a type, which are ordinarily subject to regulation by a financial
services regulator in the jurisdiction in which the entity operates;
“FINMA” means the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority;
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Limited;
“FSMA” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
“FX Disruption Event” means the occurrence of any event on any day or any number of
consecutive days as determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole
and reasonable discretion that affects the Issuer’s currency hedging (if
any) with respect to the currency of any Notes and:
(a) the currency in which the relevant Index is denominated;
and/or
(b) the currency of any Component Contracts;
“Global Note” means any Permanent Global Note and/or any Temporary Global Note;
“Index” means each of the CMCI Composite Index or sub-indices which make
up the CMCI Index Family and “Indices” shall be construed
accordingly; and “relevant Index” shall mean the Index to which a
particular class or Series of Notes is linked as set out in the Final
Terms;
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“Index Committee” means the CMCI Governance Committee and the CMCI Advisory
Committee;
“Index Commodity” means any physical commodity represented in an Index by Component
Contracts;
“Index Performance Ratio” means a figure calculated in accordance with Condition 5.4;
“Index Sponsors” means UBS AG and Bloomberg L.P. and each of them is an “Index
Sponsor” and any successor thereto;
“Interest Disruption Event” means the occurrence of any event on any day or any number of
consecutive days as determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole
and reasonable discretion which delays the release of an interest rate
reference, or any other event which affects the Issuer’s hedging with
respect to the interest component of the Index;
“Issue Date” means the date described as such in the relevant Final Terms;
“Issuer” means UBS AG, a corporation incorporated in Switzerland;
“Italian Certificates” means Notes admitted or to be admitted to listing on the Italian Stock
Exchange and to trading on the SeDeX Market and in respect of which
Italian Certificates are stated to be “Applicable” in the relevant Final
Terms in respect of such Notes;
“Italian Banking Act” means the Italian Legislative Decree no. 385 of 1 September 1993, as
from time to time amended;
“Italian Financial Services
Act”
means the Italian Legislative Decree no. 58 of 24 February 1998 as
from time to time amended;
“Italian Stock Exchange” means Borsa Italiana S.p.A. with registered office in Milan, Piazza
degli Affari, 5, Italy, a member of the London Stock Exchange Group;
“Italian Stock Exchange Rules” means the regulation of the markets organised and managed by the
Italian Stock Exchange, approved by the Italian Stock Exchange on 26
June 2012 and by CONSOB on 1 August 2012, and the implementing
instructions, all as amended;
“Listing” means (i) the admission of a particular class of Notes to the Official
List in accordance with the Listing Rules and admission of a particular
class of Notes to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s market for
listed securities (or any of such markets if the London Stock Exchange
has at any time more than one such market) becoming effective; and
(ii) and in respect of Italian Certificates, for so long as such Italian
Certificates are admitted to listing on the Italian Stock Exchange, the
admission to listing and trading of the Italian Certificates on SeDeX
Market pursuant to the Italian Stock Exchange Rules;
“Listing Rules” means the Listing Rules of the UKLA, which can be found in the FCA
Handbook and in respect of Italian Certificates, for so long as such
Italian Certificates are admitted to listing on the Italian Stock
Exchange, the Italian Stock Exchange Rules;
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“London Stock Exchange” means London Stock Exchange plc or its market for listed securities
(or any such market if the London Stock Exchange has at any time
more than one such market), as the context may require;
“Market Disruption Event” means, in respect of any Index:
(a) a limitation, suspension, or disruption to trading in one or more
of the Component Contracts or imposed by the relevant
Exchange or otherwise and whether caused by movements in the
price of such Component Contract exceeding any limits imposed
by the relevant Exchange or otherwise;
(b) the price for any Component Contract is a “limit price”
(meaning that the price for such Component Contract has at any
point during the last 15 minutes of trading on the Exchange,
increased or decreased from the previous day’s closing price by
the maximum amount permitted under the relevant Exchange
rules);
(c) the failure by the relevant Exchange or other price source as
applicable to any Component Contract to announce or publish
the settlement price in respect of the Component Contract;
(d) the closure on any Exchange Business Day of any relevant
Exchange in respect of a Component Contract, prior to its
Closing Time; or
(e) any event (other than an early closure as described above) that
disputes or impairs (as determined by the Calculation Agent) the
ability of market participants in general to effect transactions in,
or obtain market values for any Component Contract;
“Minimum Redemption
Multiple”
means the number of Notes specified by the Issuer for the purposes of
Condition 5.2, being 10,000 unless otherwise specified in relation to
any Series of Notes in the relevant Final Terms;
“Monte Titoli” means Monte Titoli S.p.A. with registered office in Milan, Via Andrea
Mantenga 6;
“Moody’s” means Moody's Investors Services Ltd;
“Noteholders” means the several persons who are for the time being the bearers of
Notes save that, in respect of the Notes of any class and/or Series, for
so long as the Notes or any part of them are represented by a Global
Note held on behalf on behalf of Euroclear and Clearstream each
person (other than Euroclear or Clearstream) who is for the time being
shown in the records of Euroclear or of Clearstream as the holder of a
particular nominal amount of the Notes of a particular class and Series
(in which regard any certificate or other document issued by Euroclear
or Clearstream as to the nominal amount of the Notes standing to the
account of any person shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes
save in the case of manifest error) shall be deemed to be the holder of
the nominal amount of Notes (and the bearer of the relevant Global
Notes shall be deemed not to be the holder) for all purposes other than
with respect to payments to be made in respect of the Notes, for which
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purpose the bearer of the relevant Global Note shall be treated by the
Issuer and any of its agents as the holder of the Notes in accordance
with and subject to the terms of the relevant Global Note and the
expressions “Noteholder”, “holder of Notes” and related expressions
shall be construed accordingly;
“Notes” means the unsecured and unsubordinated notes of any Series or class
linked to an Index and issued by the Issuer on the terms of the
Conditions (and, for the avoidance of doubt, includes Italian
Certificates);
“Notional Amount” means in relation to any Class or Series of Notes the product of the
Specified Denomination and the number of Notes of that class or
Series;
“Official List” the list maintained by the FCA in accordance with section 74(1) of the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
“PD Regulation” means the Commission Regulation No 809/2004 implementing the
Prospectus Directive and any amendments thereto;
“Permanent Global Note” means a permanent global bearer note in respect of a particular class
and Series, issued by the Issuer which represents such Notes;
“Prospectus” means this Base Prospectus of the Issuer, as supplemented from time
to time;
“Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 4 November 2003 and any amendments thereto;
“Redeeming Noteholder” means a Noteholder who has given a Redemption Notice in accordance
with Condition 5.9.1;
“Redemption” means the redemption of a Note or Notes in accordance with
Condition 5, and “Redeem”, “Redeeming” or “Redeemed” shall be
construed accordingly;
“Redemption Amount” means in respect of any Note the amount calculated in accordance with
Condition 5.3;
“Redemption Date” means in respect of any Note, the earliest to occur of:
(i) the first Annual Exercise Date in respect of which the
Noteholder gives a valid Redemption Notice in accordance
with Condition 5.9.1;
(ii) any date of Redemption determined pursuant to and in
accordance with Condition 5.7; and
(iii) in respect of Italian Certificates (unless the Noteholder has
given a duly completed Renouncement Notice to the Issuer),
the Data di Scadenza,
provided, in each case, (i) if such day is not a Trading Day, the first
Trading Day thereafter and (ii) if such date is a Disrupted Date, such
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later date as may be determined pursuant to Condition 7 (Disruption);
“Redemption Notice” has the meaning given to it in Condition 5.9.1;
“Redemption Payment Date” means the fifth Business Day following the Redemption Date;
“Regulated Market” means a regulated market for the purposes of Directive 2004/39/EC of
the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 (the
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive);
“Relevant Member State” means a Member State of the European Economic Area which has
implemented the Prospectus Directive;
“Renouncement Notice Cut-Off
Time”
means, in respect of Italian Certificates, the time on the Data di
Scadenza specified as such in the relevant Final Terms;
“S&P” means Standard & Poor's Credit Market Services Europe Limited;
“Scheduled Closing Time” means, in respect of an Exchange and a Scheduled Trading Day, the
scheduled weekday closing time of such Exchange on such Scheduled
Trading Day, without regard to after hours or any other trading outside
of the regular trading session hours;
“Scheduled Trading Day” means any day on which (a) the Index Sponsors are scheduled to
publish the Closing Level of the Index and (b) the Calculation Agent is
open for business;
“SeDeX Market” means the Electronic Securitised Derivatives Market of the Italian
Stock Exchange;
“Series” means in respect of a particular class of Notes all such Notes which
have the same Trade Date and which are represented by the same
Global Note;
“Settlement Cycle” means the number of the relevant Clearing System Business Days
following a trade in the Component Contracts on the relevant
Exchange in which settlement will customarily occur according to the
rule of such Exchange (or if there are multiple Exchanges in respect of
an Index, the longest such period);
“Specified Denomination” the amount stated as such in the relevant Final Terms;
“Swiss Stock Exchange Act” means the Federal Act on Stock Exchanges and Securities Trading of
24 March 1995;
“Target System” means the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement
Express Transfer (TARGET) System;
“Technical Document” means the document entitled “UBS Bloomberg CMCI (Constant
Maturity Commodity Index) – Technical Document”, which at the date
of this Prospectus is available on the Issuer’s website at:
http://www.ubs.com/cmci, as amended from time to time;
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“Temporary Global Note” means a temporary global bearer note issued by the Issuer in respect of
a particular class and Series which represents such Notes and may be
exchanged for a Permanent Global Note;
“TIDM” in relation to the Notes of any Series means the Tradable Instrument
Display Mnemonic issued by the London Stock Exchange in respect of
the Notes of that Series, as specified in the relevant Final Terms;
“Total Fee Amount” means the sum of the Fee Amounts for each day from and including
the trading day after the applicable trade date up to and including the
redemption date;
“Total Return Index” means an Index within the CMCI Index Family which reflects the
returns generated from fully-collateralised futures positions in the
commodities included in the Index.
The overall return on a Total Return Index will be generated by two
components:
(i) uncollateralised returns from the futures contracts comprising
the Index; and
(ii) the return earned on securities theoretically deposited as
collateral for such contracts;
“Total Return Reference Rate” means the daily collateral return rate applicable to any Total Return
Index which is not denominated in US Dollars, as set out in the Final
Terms of any Notes linked to such relevant Index;
“Trade Date” in respect of a particular Series of Notes, the date specified as such in
the relevant Final Terms;
“Trading Day” means any day:
(i) on which the Index Sponsors are scheduled to publish the
Closing Level of the relevant Index;
(ii) on which trading is generally conducted on the London Stock
Exchange;
(iii) which is a day on which the Calculation Agent is open for
business; and
(iv) in respect of Italian Certificates, provided such Italian
Certificates are admitted to listing on the Italian Stock
Exchange and to trading on the SeDeX Market, on which the
Italian Stock Exchange is open;
“UBS Group” means the Issuer and its subsidiaries;
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“UKLA” means the UK Financial Conduct Authority in its capacity as the UK
listing authority for the purposes of the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 (“FSMA”) or any successor authority appointed as the
competent UK listing authority for the purposes of Part VI (Official
Listing) of the FSMA or otherwise;
“United States” or “U.S.” means the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any
state of the United States and the District of Columbia;
“U.S. person” has the meaning given in paragraph 2 (“Selling Restrictions – United
States”) of “Additional Information”;
“US$” or “USD” means the lawful currency of the United States of America and
references to “US Dollars” shall be similarly construed; and
“Valuation Date” means the Trade Date, each Fee Amount Calculation Date and each
Redemption Date.
Any reference to the Conditions or to any agreement or document includes a reference to the Conditions
or (as the case may be) to such agreement or document as amended, varied, novated, supplemented or
replaced from time to time.
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DIRECTORS AND ADVISERS
ISSUER
UBS AG
Bahnhofstrasse 45
8001 Zürich
Switzerland
DIRECTORS OF THE ISSUER
Michel Demaré
Rainer-Marc Frey
Bruno Gehrig
Ann F. Godbehere
Axel P. Lehmann
Wolfgang Mayrhuber
Helmut Panke
William G Parrett
David Sidwell
Kaspar Villiger
Joseph Yam
LONDON BRANCH OF THE ISSUER AND CALCULATION AGENT
UBS AG, London Branch 1 Finsbury Avenue
London EC2M 2PP
United Kingdom
LEGAL ADVISORS TO THE ISSUER AS TO ENGLISH LAW
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
Mitre House
160 Aldersgate Street
London EC1A 4DD
United Kingdom
AUDITORS TO THE ISSUER
Ernst & Young Ltd. Aeschengraben 9
4002 Basel
Switzerland
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APPENDIX A – FORM OF REDEMPTION NOTICE
When completed, this notice should be delivered (i) if the Notes are represented by a Global Note, or
are in definitive form and held through Euroclear or Clearstream, in electronic form via EUCLID to
Euroclear or via Creation Online to Clearstream (as applicable) or (ii) if the Notes are in definitive
form but not held through Euroclear or Clearstream, in writing or by fax along with the relevant Notes
to the Issuer.
To: UBS AG as Issuer (email: [email protected])
cc: UBS AG, London Branch as Calculation Agent (email: [email protected])
Subject: [title of Notes] - Redemption Notice
ISIN No: [•] Common Code: [•]
TIDM: [•]
The undersigned writes to you in its capacity as beneficial owner of the above-referenced [•] in aggregate
principal amount of the [•] Notes (the “Notes”). Words used and not defined herein shall have the
meanings given to them in the Base Prospectus relating to the Notes dated [•] 2013.
Name of Euroclear/Clearstream Custodian: [•]
Number of Notes to be redeemed [to equal or be an integral multiple of the Minimum Redemption
Multiple for the relevant Series of Notes]:
[Name of Broker]: [•]
[Broker/Noteholder] Contact Name: [•]
[Broker/Noteholder] Telephone Number: [•]
Noteholder email for receipt of Redemption Confirmation: [•]
Euroclear/Clearstream Custodian’s Euroclear/Clearstream Account No.: [•]
The undersigned acknowledges (a) that any Redemption Notice received by the Issuer after 12 noon
London time on any Trading Day or on any day that is not a Trading Day will be deemed received by the
Issuer prior to 12 noon London time on the following Trading Day and (b) that in addition to any other
requirements specified in the Base Prospectus for the Notes and the relevant Final Terms for the Notes
being satisfied, the Notes will not be redeemed unless:
(i) the undersigned instructs its Euroclear or Clearstream custodian to book a delivery vs. payment
(“DVP”) trade with respect to the Notes to be redeemed on the applicable Redemption Date, at
the Redemption Amount, facing UBS AG, and
(ii) the undersigned causes its Euroclear or Clearstream custodian to deliver the DVP trade to UBS
AG as booked for settlement via Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, as at or prior to
10.00 a.m. London time on the third Trading Day following the applicable Redemption Date.
The undersigned confirms that it has requested [Euroclear/Clearstream/CREST/Monte Titoli] to block its
account at the time of sending this Redemption Notice.
Date: [•]
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Signed: [Redeeming Noteholder]
Full Name: [•]
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APPENDIX B – FORM OF REDEMPTION CONFIRMATION
To: [Noteholder email address specified in Redemption Notice]
FAO [Noteholder contact name]
cc: UBS AG, London Branch as Calculation Agent (email: [email protected])
Subject: [title of Notes] - Redemption Confirmation
ISIN No: [•] Common Code: [•]
TIDM: [•]
Name of Beneficial Owner: [•]
Name of Euroclear/Clearstream Custodian: [•]
Number of Notes to be redeemed [to equal or be an integral multiple of the Minimum Redemption
Multiple for the relevant Series of Notes]:
Redemption Amount: [•]
Euroclear/Clearstream Custodian’s Euroclear/Clearstream Account: [•]
UBS AG, as Issuer of the Notes, confirms receipt of a Redemption Notice with the details set out above,
confirms that the Redemption Notice was received by it prior to 12 noon London time on [•] and therefore
that, subject as below, the applicable Redemption Date is [•], and the applicable Redemption Payment
Date is [•] (in each case subject to the relevant disruption fallback).
Payment of the Redemption Amount is subject to the Noteholder having instructed its Euroclear or
Clearstream custodian to book a delivery vs. payment (“DVP”) trade with respect to the Notes to be
redeemed on the applicable Redemption Date, at the Redemption Amount, facing UBS AG, and the
Noteholder causing its Euroclear or Clearstream custodian to deliver the DVP trade to UBS AG as
booked for settlement via [Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be,][the bridge accounts of Monte
Titoli] as at or prior to 10.00 a.m. London time on the applicable Redemption Payment Date.
Date:
Signed: [•] for and on behalf of UBS AG
Name: [•]
Title: [•]
Telephone: [•]
Email: [•]
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APPENDIX C - FORM OF RENOUNCEMENT NOTICE
When completed, this notice should be delivered (i) if the Notes are represented by a Global Note, or
are in definitive form and held through Euroclear or Clearstream, in electronic form via EUCLID to
Euroclear or via Creation Online to Clearstream (as applicable) or (ii) if the Notes are in definitive
form but not held through Euroclear or Clearstream, in writing or by fax along with the relevant Notes
to the Issuer.
To: UBS AG as Issuer (email: [email protected])
cc: UBS AG, London Branch as Calculation Agent (email: [email protected])
Subject: [title of Italian Certificates] - Renouncement Notice
ISIN No: [•] Common Code: [•]
Data di Scadenza: [•]
Renouncement Notice Cut-Off Time: [•]
Name of Beneficial Owner: [•]
[Name of Euroclear/Clearstream Custodian:] [•]
The undersigned writes to you in its capacity as beneficial owner of the above-referenced [•] in aggregate
principal amount of the [•] Notes (the “Italian Certificates”). Words used and not defined herein shall
have the meanings given to them in the Base Prospectus relating to the Notes dated [•] 2013.
The undersigned beneficial owner of the Italian Certificates
................................................................................................................................................. (Name)
hereby communicates that it is renouncing the automatic exercise of the rights granted by the Italian
Certificates and therefore the right to receive the Redemption Amount payable with respect to the Italian
Certificates following the automatic exercise of such Italian Certificates, in accordance with the Terms
and Conditions. Furthermore, the undersigned acknowledges that any rights arising from the Italian
Certificates will terminate upon delivery of the Renouncement Notice, that it will not be entitled to
receive any Redemption Amount payable by the Issuer with respect to the Italian Certificates and that the
Issuer shall have no further liability with respect to the Italian Certificates as specified below, in
accordance with the Terms and Conditions.
Series No. of Italian Certificates: .....................................................................................................
Number of Italian Certificates the subject of this notice: ...............................................................
The undersigned understands that if this Renouncement Notice is not duly completed and delivered prior
to the Renouncement Notice Cut-Off Time on the Data di Scadenza or is determined to be incomplete or
not in proper form (in the determination of the Issuer), it will be treated as null and void.
If this Renouncement Notice is subsequently corrected to the satisfaction of the Issuer, it will be deemed
to be a new Renouncement Notice submitted at the time such correction was delivered to the Issuer.
The undersigned confirms that it has requested Monte Titoli to block its account in respect of the Italian
Certificates at the time of sending this Renouncement Notice.
UK – 76861867.1 126
SIGNATURE PAGE
Signed on behalf of UBS AG
By:............................................ By:............................................
Duly authorised Duly authorised
Richard Lamb
Executive Director
Sales & Trading Legal
Anky Chan
Executive Director
Sales & Trading Legal
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP Mitre House
160 Aldersgate Street London
EC1A 4DD
United Kingdom